DSCC-Covington Campus put on Lockdown, Officers Search for Fugitive
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TIPTON COUNTY, Tenn.- School officials put Dyersburg State Community College in Covington on lockdown Wednesday, as authorities searched near the campus for a fugitive listed among the state’s top 10 most wanted. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said there was an active search in the area for Stephen Melton, 58, who is accused of stealing a Lauderdale County Sheriff Deputy’s SUV earlier this month. Officials said Melton was being detained on a methamphetamine-related charge when he escaped. Chief Donna Turner with the Tipton County’s Sheriff’s Dept. told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News their manhunt in Covington began after Melton was spotted south of the college campus. “We do not know if anybody is helping him. If they are we just encourage him to turn himself in because we are not going to quit looking for him,” said Chief Turner. “We are considering him armed and dangerous… he’s on the run and obviously if he could escape from custody we don’t know what he would be capable of.” The sighting near Dyersburg State Community College’s campus in Covington, prompted school officials to lock down the campus for several hours. Officials said students and teachers were released and escorted off campus by officers starting around 1:15 p.m. “Today several hundreds students were impacted by the lock down,” said Dr. Jamie Frakes, Dean of DSCC Jimmy Naifeh Center. “We take very seriously the safety, the well being of our students and that includes the community.” Officers with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Highway Patrol Tipton and Lauderdale Counties assisted U.S Marshals by combing through the wooded area where Melton was last seen. “The information we were given is that he is sort of a survivalist so he would be out in the wooded area and not be seen out in business areas,” said Chief Turner. Officials said Melton is believed to be on foot but could be anywhere. He has evaded law enforcement for now 11 days since his escape. Investigators said they are notifying area businesses as well as neighboring homes to be on the lookout. “Certainly we want everybody to be aware of their surroundings, be aware of anything that seems out of the ordinary and report it,” said Dr. Frakes. School officials said all classes for Wednesday night were cancelled. They said all updates will be posted for students on staff on their website. Officers said Melton has family living in the Covington area. Anyone with information that could help authorities find Melton is asked to call 911.
