Wayne County and Monticello authorities report a manhunt occurred last Friday afternoon, November 27 by Monticello Police and Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, resulting in a Clinton County man being apprehended after escaping custody in Clinton County.

The search for Justin Stapp started just after he was seen at a business on the 90 Bypass. Law enforcement searched several businesses in the immediate area and eventually located Stapp at a residence on South 2nd Street in Monticello.

Stapp was charged with escape third degree; manufacturing methamphetamine; unlawful possession of a meth precursor and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The suspect was turned over to Clinton County authorities and lodged in Clinton County Jail.

In an unrelated incident, a high speed chase that began in Clinton County and ended in neighboring Cumberland County resulted in charges being lodged against two individuals, including one who is facing both multiple felony and misdemeanor traffic related offense.

According to reports, last Wednesday, November 25 around 12 noon, Clinton County Sheriff Jim Guffey and Constable Andy Butler observed a vehicle with a load of barn lumber at Junction Station, about four miles west of Albany. Sheriff Guffey contacted the local dispatch requesting a check of the plate number that appeared on the vehicle, a red Chevy S-10 pickup, which exited Junction Station onto west Highway 90.

Guffey and Butler attempted to get behind the vehicle for observation while awaiting information from dispatch. Dispatch advised that the plate number given, in fact, came back to a white two door Chrysler van, which was not the Chevy truck that was being observed.

Apparently the truck took off at a high rate of speed, reaching speeds of over 105 miles per hour and running five vehicles, including a semi-trailer, off the roadway during the police pursuit.

Sheriff Guffey was able to stop the subjects at the bottom of Bear Creek Hill in Cumberland County. At that point, Cumberland County Sheriff Scot Daniels and Deputy Parker Hickman was there to assist after the chase ended.

Sheriff Daniels, due to the stop being in Cumberland County, made the arrest of the individuals in the vehicle.

According to reports, Michael Lee of Somerset, Kentucky was charged with fleeing or evading police first degree; wanton endangerment first degree; receiving stolen property under $10,000, all felonies and several misdemeanors including speeding, failure of non-owner operator to maintain registration/insurance; no registration plates; no registration receipt; failure to make notification of address change; reckless driving; improper passing and operating a motor vehicle on a DUI suspended license.

A passenger in the vehicle, Carolyn Lee, was charged with a felony offense of receiving stolen property under $10,000 and misdemeanors of failure to notify the Department of Transportation of an address change and no seat belt.

The investigation is continuing.