OFFICERS WERE ATTEMPTING TO SERVE WARRANT AT HOUSE WHEN MALE SUSPECT PULLED UP TO AND THEN DROVE FROM SCENE; FEMALE PASSENGER ARRESTED TRYING TO FLEE IN CAR WHEN SUSPECT JUMPED AND RAN AWAY ON FOOT
MARCH 14, 2020 – written by WADE QUEEN
MAN ON THE RUN IN JOHNSON COUNTY, KY: FUGITIVE GREGORY SHEPHERD
One woman is behind bars and another person, a man, is still on the run after a police chase in Johnson County Thursday.
According to a press release from the Johnson County Sheriff Department, on late afternoon Thursday March 12, deputies went to serve a warrant on an individual located at a home on Stambaugh Branch in Johnson County but no one was home at the residence.
While deputies were in the driveway of the address, a car pulled in and entered the driveway. When the driver of the vehicle saw the Deputies, he immediately backed out of the driveway and quickly drove away and fled the scene.
The deputies followed the vehicle, which led to a chase, and called more cruisers to join the chase.
Four Johnson County Sheriff Department units responded to the chase, two of which were not on duty at the time of the call.
The suspects’ vehicle traveled out of Stambaugh Branch and onto Rt. 201, across Rt. 1559 and then turned onto Rt. 172 toward Flat Gap.
Bystanders helped deputies find the suspect’s car, which went toward Flat Gap. Deputies caught up and when deputies located the vehicle at the intersection of Rt. 172 and Dixon Branch, the male driver had jumped out and run away, having fled on foot, up a hillside.
Deputies searched the area, but could not locate the subject driver, whom they identified as Gregory Shepherd, 40, of Prestonsburg, and that Shepherd is wanted on several warrants.
At last report, Johnson County deputies said they think Shepherd was in the Volga or Flat Gap area and that he may have come off the hill between Flat Gap, Puncheon, and/or the Ramey Branch area.
When Shepherd jumped out of the car, one of the passengers, a female, got into the driver’s seat and tried to drive away. Deputies arrested Jolena Pack-Music, 39, of Prestonsburg, at the scene, where they also found two juveniles in the back of the car. Social services were called and took the minors into custody.
PARTNER IN CRIME: JOLENA PACK-MUSIC
Officers said they also found a firearm, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the car.
Jolena Pack-Music was charged with 14 criminal and motor traffic violations, which were as the following:
• WANTON ENDANGERMENT-1ST DEGREE (2 SEPARATE CHARGES),
• ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A MINOR (2 SEPARATE CHARGES ),
• HINDERING PROSECUTION OR APPREHENSION-2ND DEGREE,
• NO OPERATORS-MOPED LICENSE,
• NO REGISTRATION PLATES,
• NO REGISTRATION RECEIPT,
• FAILURE OF OWNER TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED INSURANCE/SECURITY, 1ST OFFENSE,
• IMPROPER DISPLAY OF REGISTRATION PLATES,
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 3RD OR > OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 3RD DEGREE – DRUG UNSPECIFIED,
• DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS,
• PRESCRIPTION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE NOT PROPER CONTAINER 1ST OFFENSE.
Johnson County Sheriff Doug Saylor advises residents in the Volga or Flat Gap area to be careful , cautious, and call 911 if they see or have any information on the whereabouts of Gregory Shepherd. or see a suspicious man in the area.