Published: Jan. 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM EST|Updated: 14 hours ago
Investigators continued their sweep of the river and banks from Warfield to Louisa all week, searching for David Blevins, Jr. Sheriff John Kirk believes Blevins was last seen fleeing from deputies, headed toward the river in an attempt to evade arrest on December 13. His family has not seen him since the day before the incident, according to Kirk.
“You know, we’re really not sure that they’re even is someone in the water. We just know that he ran towards the water that night and was reported missing a week later. So, we’re just trying to cover all the bases. You know, give the family some closure in case he did go in the water,” Kirk said.
Wednesday morning, Kirk said, an unrelated traffic stop led to a second person following that same escape plan.
Deputies said they attempted a traffic stop on David Joshua Brown, when they noticed he was driving a vehicle that had no tire on one of its rims. They ran his information and discovered an outstanding warrant, but before they could detain him they say he ran from the vehicle and led deputies on a foot chase until he jumped in the river.
“They were able to finally coach him out of the river. He actually went under a few times, and we thought that we weren’t gonna be able to get him out before hypothermia set in,,” said Kirk.
Brown made it shore, was taken to the hospital to be medically cleared, and was booked in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
As news of his rescue and arrest came to light, confusion began to spread in the community. According to deputies, people were sharing false information, saying the department had located Blevins.
Kirk said people fleeing into the river to avoid an arrest is a common issue his department deals with. He said they are lucky to have gotten Brown to shore.
“We’ve had to do several river rescues since I’ve been sheriff- the tenure I’ve been sheriff- and I hope we never have to do another one,” he said. “But, unfortunately, as long as time lasts, I’m sure we’ll have to.”
The search for Blevins, however, has not been successful. Deputies continued working with area first responders Thursday, bringing sonar devices into the mix with Ashland Fire Department lending a hand. But Kirk said they have exhausted all of their resources searching and will now continue the investigation on land.
“We’ve done pretty much everything,” said Kirk.
He said without the help of neighbors the search would have never expanded as far as it did. The department received local help from Martin County 911, Martin County Emergency Management, Martin County Rescue Squad, Inez Fire Department, Lawrence County Emergency Management, and Ashland Fire Department. Neighboring department in West Virginia also joined in the search, with Williamson Fire Department, Kermit Fire Department, Ceredo Fire Department, and others lending a hand. Officials say Ohio departments were also on the water to extend the search.
”It’s been a large operation. Takes a lot of people to do this. A lot of this is either volunteer- some of these agencies are paid people,” said Kirk. “A lot of time and money invested here to make sure that if he is in the river that we can recover him.”
Though the river search is off, the investigation remains open. Anyone with information regarding Blevins’ whereabouts is asked to contact 911.
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