Pine Bluff police along with a deputy and K-9 unit of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office apprehend David Tiger, a suspect who tried to hide at Jack Robey Junior High School Thursday following a alleged burglary, police say. He was captured on the corner of 39th Avenue and Olive Street Thursday. Special to The Commercial/William Harvey
A man suspected of a residential burglary along the 3900 block of South Main Street in Pine Bluff Thursday afternoon fled to Jack Robey Junior High School after being confronted by the homeowner, according to incident reports filed by the Pine Bluff Police Department.
PBPD officers Chris Powell and Brad Vilches indicated in their reports that the suspect, identified as David Tiger, dove out of a window at the residence he had entered after being yelled at by the homeowner.
The homeowner reportedly went outside to look for the suspect and was met by Cary Clayton, an employee of Jack Robey, who said that the suspect ran from the residence into the school and told the homeowner that he had called 911.
Vilches’ report indicates that he and Powell began to chase Tiger after he was spotted outside the school.
The reports state that Tiger fled across Olive Street and onto Greenbrier and before jumping a fence and running into a wooded area.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Courtney Kelly deployed his canine into the field after being contacted by the PBPD and began searching for the suspect, locating Tiger approximately 30 feet from the last location he was seen, the reports said.
Kelly used his Taser on the suspect after Tiger allegedly failed to respond to commands, according to the incident reports.
Rudolph Howard, assistant superintendent for the Pine Bluff School District, complimented efforts of the staff and law enforcement for the actions taken to protect students, staff and faculty during the incident.
“I compliment our staff and security officers for doing an excellent job and keeping the suspect away from the kids and the staff,” Howard said. “The suspect ran into the building and tried to hide in a restroom. Our guys got him out of the building. He ran out of the building and into the woods where he was apprehended. Our security staff acted expeditiously and were key to apprehending the individual.”