Sheriff Robert Burby
Date: July 29, 2023
High Speed Pursuit on Hwy 255 East on July 28, 2023:
On Friday, July 28, 2023, approximately 1300 hours, we were investigating a burglary call of a Deer Camp in the vicinity of Hwy 255 West and County Road 1090. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was Andrew Ancell. The images and evidence that was left behind confirmed this to be a fact. Ancell broke into several RV campers and cabins and used items that were there and took other items as well. We established a perimeter and contacted Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office for the use of their Blood Hounds and a Drone.
A short time later we set up a command point on County Road 1090 where Ancell was last observed on a trail cam and was starting to track his whereabouts in a heavily wooded area. One of the deputies observed a white 1992 Ford Crown Victoria approaching out location at a high rate of speed travel north on CR 1090, and when we tried to flag down the driver to stop, he almost ran over us. We initiated a pursuit and the suspect refused to pull over. The pursuit went into Louisiana from County Road 255 East and crossed over into Louisiana on LA Hwy 191 North. Sabine Parish Deputies took the lead in the pursuit until the suspect was stopped by the deployment of stop sticks. He ran off the road into a heavily wooded area and crashed into some small pine trees and fled on foot. Surrounding jurisdictions arrived and participated in the apprehension of the suspect.
The suspect driving the Ford Crown Victoria was identified and was not Andrew Ancell. Nevertheless, you don’t try to run over the police who are merely conducting official business and expect to drive off. Once the suspect was checked out on the scene, I asked the suspect why didn’t he stop? He replied, I didn’t want to go to jail for DWI. The pursuit suspect is currently in the custody of Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office with charges pending from them and Newton County.
The latest update on Ancell is he still at large and believed to be in the vicinity of the Hwy 255 West corridor. Ancell’s photo was captured on a trail cam, and he is wearing a dark T-shirt, khaki pants, and wearing work or hunting boots and carrying a camouflaged backpack. He should not be approached. Anyone who spots him should call the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. He has been known to ask for food and a ride.
I want to thank all the agencies in Sabine Parish, Vernon Parish, and the Louisiana State Police who where there and assisted. The Newton County Dispatchers did an outstanding job coordinated this pursuit with our Louisiana Partners in Blue. Great Job, and no one was hurt.
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