Escaped inmate on run for 3 days captured in Madison County
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MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — After more than three days on the lam, a Middle Tennessee fugitive now sits in the Madison County Jail. Deputies said when they caught up with Jason Kirk Thursday afternoon, he was dehydrated, hungry and ready to surrender. “I think Mr. Kirk is a little tired,” Interim Jackson Police Chief Julian Wiser said. “He’s been out here in this wooded area for a couple days and is dehydrated and hungry.” Kirk’s mugshot has been plastered across West Tennessee since Tuesday when police said they first thought he was in Jackson to see family. It was a deputy handing out wanted posters Thursday in west Madison County who spotted him. “My husband and I both kind of looked at each other and said, ‘surely that’s not the guy walking down the highway,'” said Amy Strong who witnessed the arrest. “As soon as we said that, one of the cop cars came up right behind him.” Strong said she was not sure what this seemingly desperate man would do when officers confronted him. “The officer had his Taser in his hand, and he didn’t resist or anything,” Strong said. “He just kind of stood there.” After spending so much time and effort to evade police, even using a stolen Ford Mustang in a high speed pursuit, Strong said it was odd to see him just give up. “That’s pretty bold,” Strong said. “To be walking down a busy highway like this and not expect to be caught by someone or someone recognize him.” But now with him back in a cell, every officer involved said it was a job well done. “It’s been some long nights out here for a lot of folks,” Chief Wiser said. “I hope now that the people of Jackson and Madison County are going to feel more comfortable this weekend with him in custody.” Kirk is currently being held at the Madison County Jail. Jackson police said he will be charged for leading them on a high-speed chase and will then be sent back to Lawrence County to face charges there. The Jackson Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, and Tennessee Probation and Parole all assisted in Kirk’s arrest.
