By about 1 am on Tuesday night, Decatur County Sheriff's Investigators had received confessions from 2 of the perpetrators of Sunday night's armed home invasion.

Sheriff Wiley Griffin stated that all 4 of the thieves have been identified, two are in custody, and the search is on for the remaining two.  Sheriff Griffin stated names would be released after arrest warrrants are issued.

Sheriff's Captain Chip Nix stated they had received information that there were several rifles on Black Jack Road.  At about 6 pm Tuesday afternoon, they went to the residence at 164 Black Jack Rd.  In a search, Deputies checked an access door that led under the home and discovered the rifles.

Seeing they were caught, 2 of the young black male suspects took off running.  Investigator Chip Nix took off after one who ran west into the wooded area.  He proceeded along a path, cut into the heavy growth, jumped an old wire fence and kept going.  Captain Nix was right behind.

The suspect cut behind some equipment and thought he was going to outrun Nix.  What he did not anticipate was the high level of the water he ran into.  All of a sudden he was at a lake.  The suspect jumped in and started to swim.  He finally got to an island some 150 yards away and grabbed on to rest.

In the video, you will see Captain Nix retrace his chase for Sheriff Wiley Griffin, but only up to the lake.

Retracing the Chase

He looked up and there was Captain Nix, coming to get him.  He took off swimming again heading to the other side another 150 yards or so away.  In spite of being weighed down with his bullet proof vest and equipment, Captain Nix stayed right with him.

There was an anxious 10 to 15 minutes for other Deputies when E911 could not get a radio response from Captain Nix.  All anyone knew was that he was in pursuit of a suspect.  Captain Nix had dropped his radio.

Getting to the other side of the lake, the suspect is now running again.  He ran about 100 yards and jumped a gate onto Florence Drive.  By the time Investigator Nix got to the road, the suspect had disappeared.

Suspect Tracks Found

The suspect had lost his shoes and shirt in the chase.  The shorts he was wearing were discovered discarded later as well.  Deputies continued to search the area until about 1 am but were unable to locate him.