Arrest follows chase
Published 3:03 am Wednesday, December 21, 2011
A late night call Saturday lead officers with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department on a high-speed chase along back roads in the county in pursuit of a suspect believed to be responsible for theft of property. Matthew Brian Kidd, 21, of Flomaton, is a suspect in a theft case that victim’s say involved a television valued at $1,000. According to Chief Deputy Mike Lambert officers with the department responded to a call at an Oil Well Road residence in reference to an attempted burglary. “As our officers were on the scene to investigate, our dispatcher received another call from a residence in the same area in reference to a theft,” Lambert said. “The residents said the suspect stole their television and left.” According to reports, Kidd was seen driving a white Kia at the time of the incident and officers began their search for him. The search lead officers to an intersection at Oil Well and Wolf Log roads where Kidd’s vehicle was spotted. A pursuit of the suspect began as officers activated their lights and sirens in an attempt to stop him. “The suspect began to travel at a high rate of speed,” Lambert said. “He was driving in a reckless manner that endangered his life and the lives of other innocent drivers on the road. He had no regard for his life or others and was traveling at speeds greater than 100 miles per hour.” Lambert said the pursuit also saw Kidd driving on the wrong side of the road with on-coming traffic as well as failing to stop at anumerous stop signs and intersections. “Kidd fled to the Pollard area and abandoned his vehicle beside the railroad tracks north of Pollard,” Lambert said. “He ran through the area on foot in the direction of Old Highway 31 and Wolf Log Road.” In an attempt to capture Kidd, the K9 team from Fountain Correctional Facility was summoned to the scene. The team tracked Kidd from the location and he was apprehended a short time later inside Hillcrest Cemetery on Wolf Log Road, Lambert said. Kidd received multiple cuts, scrapes and abrasions as a result of running through the swampy area in the dark, Lambert said. Kidd was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center where he received medical treatment for his wounds. He was booked into the facility on several charges including multiple traffic violations, felony theft and other misdemeanor charges. He also faces charges of violation of parole. He remained behind bars on a $30,000 bond as of press time Tuesday. The case remains under investionation.