Escaped Alabama Inmate Now In Escambia Jail After Pursuit Ends In Wreck

November 27, 2019

An escaped Alabama inmate captured in Escambia County after a pursuit and rollover wreck on West Kingsfield Road is now behind bars.

Joseph Keith Edwards, 26, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Tuesday night on charges of fleeing and eluding and resisting an officer.  The Florida Highway Patrol said additional charges of driving under the influence (drugs), reckless driving and driving without a license are pending.

Edwards and Landon Lee Gunter escaped Sunday from the Chilton County (AL) Jail.  Gunter remained on the run, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday afternoon that there was no indication he was in the area.

After his escape, Edwards carjacked a vehicle in Saraland, Alabama. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spotted Edwards Tuesday afternoon near Ransom Middle and Kingsfield Elementary schools.

An ECSO deputy attempted to make contact with Edwards at the entrance to the schools when he fled. Edwards’ mother was standing at the rear the back door of the vehicle when he too off. She was dragged along outside the vehicle until she managed to free herself. She received minor injuries.

The ECSO gave chase, and the pursuit ended when Edwards lost control of the stolen Kia Spectra in a  90-degree curve on West Kingsfield Road west of County Road 97 and overturned into a ditch. He was extricated by Escambia Fire Rescue and transported to an area hospital where he was treated and released.

U.S. Marshals were also involved in the incident.

The inmates escaped sometime on Sunday. It was unclear how long they were gone before they were noticed missing during a 7:05 p.m. head count at the Chilton County Jail, according to the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office.

At the time of his escape, Edwards was held on charges of possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia first degree, and receiving a stolen vehicle.

Gunter was being held on an auto theft charge. He is described as a white male, about 5-foot 10-inches tall, and 155 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.

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NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbout, click to enlarge.

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NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Comments

14 Responses to “Escaped Alabama Inmate Now In Escambia Jail After Pursuit Ends In Wreck”

  1. Sheila james on November 30th, 2019 6:56 am

    I want to explode,I have not heard from my son Landon Gunter.I fear he is hurt,and people should get a grip .the woman who spoke with such hate I forgive you,Edwards mother was put in a situation of trying to help her son stay alive,as we all know it’s not something that we pland.just remember everyone matters.im very glad that so far no one is dead .thing can always get worse,remember when you point a finger at someone you have three pointing back at you.thanks for all the hard work from the the state troopers,policwe oh yeah let’s not forget Mr.edwards mom. The struggle is real.if there is anything I can do let me know I will show you an army of addicts that would help because we matter.thanks proud mother of Landon Lee Gunter…love you son come home .

  2. Really on November 27th, 2019 9:57 pm

    Dave – STOP IT!

  3. Dave on November 27th, 2019 3:19 pm

    1 turkey down and out again….he missed his “stuffing” now he can catch up

  4. tg on November 27th, 2019 2:52 pm

    JUST SAYING do you think Mama was giving him directions down Kingsfield Road to the Police Station?

  5. Just Saying .... on November 27th, 2019 1:37 pm

    This is absolutely horrible, but what are all of these comments about the ‘Mom’ …… Do you know her? Is she really a part of criminal wrongdoing of her son? Why would anyone sit and judge her? No matter how you raise your children, the choices they make as adults are choices of their own. Without knowing this lady, I have to believe that no matter how wrong he has done that she loves her child and maybe, just maybe she was trying to get him to turn himself in. Yes, I do hope they returned him to prison when he was released from the hospital with some extra security in place.

  6. Rasheed Jackson on November 27th, 2019 12:49 pm

    Gene Hollon, I totally agree. especially meth dealers. They are selling a deadly chemical knowing it could kill the user or leave the user in state that is dangerous to others. Time to hold people accountable. OH, and like Gene, I said nothing about bartenders. Unless of course they are selling “HARD DRUGS”.

  7. John Doe on November 27th, 2019 10:46 am

    @Gene Hollon, so bartenders should be considered first degree murderers as well, I guess.

  8. tg on November 27th, 2019 8:42 am

    With those facial tats its hard to hide. Mama must be proud.

  9. Sabrina on November 27th, 2019 8:36 am

    This was the car that was riding my a$$ from Roberts Rd, 29 then Kingsfield! I had to pull off to let it pass bc it was incredibly dangerously driving!

  10. Alan on November 27th, 2019 7:50 am

    What was his mom doing there? She should be charged as an accessory. Also, what kind of low life piece of scum takes off dragging his mother?

  11. Willis on November 26th, 2019 8:56 pm

    Good ole W. Kingsfield catches the bad guy.

    Hope his Mom is ok.

  12. rance on November 26th, 2019 6:04 pm

    It’s ironic how many good people come to the rescue of a scumbag criminal that dragged his mother in an effort to escape – don’t know her involvement but it doesn’t look good for her son now – as far as the other one – hunt him – find him – imprison him.

  13. Gene Hollon on November 26th, 2019 6:03 pm

    POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS and PARAPHERNALIA !!!!
    CONSIDER THIS, ____DRUNK DRIVERS , A N D HARD DRUG DEALERS are PRE-MEDITATED MURDERERS .
    When captured, tried, and convicted, they DESERVE SEVERE , LONG TERM punishment.

  14. diane banks on November 26th, 2019 5:38 pm

    Is West Kingsfield open to traffic at 4:30 pm