Authorities in Marion County continue search for fugitive

MARION COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – On Tuesday, authorities took to the ground and sky covering a several mile perimeter, but never located Dewayne Lee Halfacre.

He’s a man wanted in Rutherford County for a recent armed robbery and a number of other charges.

“I would classify him as very dangerous,” Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett said.

Tuesday morning, a part-time Marion County officer spotted a man believed to be Halfacre.

When the officer approached the man, he got into a scuffle and authorities said an armed Halfacre took the officer’s car and left.

“At some point, the car was disabled and he got out and ran,” Sheriff Burnett said.

David Riley with Marion County News took pictures of the disabled car and said he just happened to be in the area when officers got on the scene.

“I came up so quickly that the police, they came on the scene still weren’t entirely sure whether or not he was still in the vehicle or not so they were surrounding the vehicle,” Riley said.

The incident put nearby Whitwell schools on lockdown for hours once again.

“We released the elementary school first, then law enforcement went to the middle school. We released the middle school, then they transitioned over to the high school for release at that time approximately about 4 o’clock central time,” Marion County Schools Superintendent Mark Griffith said.

On Monday, authorities captured Halfacre’s partner while Halfacre managed to escape.

Griffith said school has been cancelled Wednesday for Whitwell high, middle, and elementary schools.

The T.B.I. has put Halfacre on Tennessee’s top ten most wanted list and is also offering a reward up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest.