Suspect escapes in high-speed pursuit

WMPD looking for information on whereabouts of elusive fugitive

news@theeveningtimes.com

What began as what was expected to be a routine outstanding felony warrant arrest Tuesday evening by specially trained officers of the West Memphis Police Violent Crime Suppression Unit ended up with two offi cers nearly being seriously injured, a police vehicle heavily damaged and a high-speed chase through West Memphis at speeds of up to 120 miles-per-hour, according to a report from Assistant Police Chief Robert Langston said.

The suspect, Donald Odom, Jr., 28, of 2183 Magnolia Bend, West Memphis, managed to elude officers and is currently at large. Langston said Odom is considered dangerous and has no regard for the safety of law enforcement officers or the citizens of West Memphis.

“We will do everything in our power to apprehend this suspect and make sure he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Langston said.

Langston also said the West Memphis Police will arrest anyone that tries to assist Odom in his attempt to evade capture.

Odom faces three counts of felony aggravated assault, theft by receiving, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, fleeing and first degree criminal mischief.

It all began when officers of the Violent Crime Suppression Unit went to the Magnolia Bend address just before 4 p.m. Tuesday after receiving information that Odom was wanted on outstanding felony warrants from St. Francis County for aggravated assault, first degree criminal mischief as well as a parole violation.

When officers arrived they noticed a man, later identified as Odom, leaning across the back seat of a 2007 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck with his legs hanging out of the door.

One of the officers said he pulled his patrol unit in front of the truck to block it in and then attempted to make contact with Odom.

As the officer and a detective exited their patrol unit Odom jumped in the driver’s seat of the pickup truck and backed up. He then put the truck in drive, rammed the patrol unit in the front passenger side door running down the side and ripping half the rear bumper off.

Langston said while Odom was striking the patrol unit he struck the detective who was standing on the passenger side, pinning him between the truck and the patrol unit.

While Odom was pushing the patrol unit toward the officer, it came within inches of hitting him, Langston said.

It was then Odom sped off heading east on Magnolia Bend toward the dead end.

He then drove through a yard and began to head back west through a field heading toward South College Boulevard.

Langston said Odom then turned east onto a farm road off of South College Boulevard at which time pursuing officers were forced to stop because their vehicles were unable to cross over a ditch that Odom was able to drive over.

Odom was seen traveling east through a field toward Airport Road and then traveled north almost striking another officer head-on.

Odom then began to head north on South Avalon Boulevard at which time officers lost contact.

A short time later officers located the truck Odom was driving at the intersection of Balfour and Belvedere Drive and discovered that it was recently stolen out of Marion.

Langston said a witness where the truck was abandoned told officers that a man believed to be Odom and the driver of the truck got into an awaiting red Saturn at the intersection of Balfour and Belvedere.

While detectives were doing an inventory of the truck they located a blue glass pipe containing methamphetamine residue.

The pipe was located on the passenger seat. Detectives also located a scale containing white residue on the driver’s side floorboard. “Odom is considered

Memphis Police Department,” Langston said.