FCSO helps return two escapees to custody

April 7 the Alabama Department of Corrections and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigators developed information that Jeffery Davis, who was a Department Of Corrections escapee, was hiding in the Burnout community and Town of Vina areas of Franklin County.

Davis had escaped custody a week prior, from a correctional work release facility in Morgan County.

Franklin County investigators were contacted by investigators with the Alabama Department of Corrections to assist in the search for Davis, who had served a prior sentence in prison when he was a Franklin County resident.
According to the FCSO, around noon a Franklin County sheriff’s deputy responded to the area to assist in the search and saw a suspicious vehicle pulled into a driveway near the intersection of County Highway 23 and County Highway 9.
The deputy identified the driver as escapee Davis and the passenger as Christopher Burney. The deputy ran a license plate check on the vehicle, and it returned as a stolen vehicle from Morgan County.

The deputy reported when he approached the two suspects, Davis and Burney began to flee on foot. The deputy pursued the pair but lost sight of them in a wooded area.
Investigators from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County district attorney’s Office, Red Bay Police Department and the Alabama Department of Corrections responded to the scene to assist the deputy.

Upon additional units arriving on scene, Burney was located and taken into custody without incident.

FCSO officials said a search was continued for Davis – and was completed with a little help from a local homeowner.

A 911 caller reported seeing Davis near an intersection and was able to direct officers to the location. Deputies and investigators saw Davis, and another foot pursuit began.

Davis fled for a long distance at this point, according to the FCSO report, but was taken into custody after a brief struggle with investigators near the intersection.
There were no injuries during the incident.

Burney was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and probation violation. Davis was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, attempting to elude and resisting arrest.

Davis is also being held for return to the custody of The Alabama Department of Corrections.

As of Tuesday morning, both were being held at the Franklin County Jail.