By Patrick McCreless

STAFF WRITER

Law enforcement agents recently recovered the vehicle allegedly stolen by a Sumiton fugitive to escape a large manhunt in the Arkadelphia area Saturday.

Cullman County Sheriff Tyler Roden said police found the stolen 2009 blue Ford Fusion in Sumiton on Tuesday.

“So evidently, he (suspect) took the vehicle from the scene and drove it there,” Roden said.

The whereabouts of the suspect, 28-year-old Christopher Kahn Laye, are still unknown. Laye is described as a white male with short hair, approximately 6 feet tall and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds. Authorities suspect he is armed with an AR-15 rifle and consider him extremely dangerous.

More than 50 officers from several law enforcement agencies surrounded a trailer on Alabama Highway 91 for seven hours after an Alabama State Trooper in a helicopter witnessed Laye run inside around 11 a.m. Saturday.

Laye escaped custody from Sumiton police Friday night after he was arrested during a meth lab bust. Roden said Laye stole a police car to make his getaway, taking the officer’s firearm with him. At some point, Laye stole another vehicle, which a Cullman County Sheriff’s deputy stopped Saturday morning.

Laye fled the scene and drove the vehicle to the trailer, which was unoccupied at the time.

Around 5:30 p.m., agents launched tear gas and entered the trailer, only to discover Laye was not there. Investigators received a report about the stolen Fusion shortly after the operation ended. The vehicle belonged to a neighbor who lived next door to the trailer.

Roden said his office would review the standoff with the other agencies involved to see what could be learned from the experience.

Anyone with information about Laye’s possible whereabouts can contact the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office at 734-0342.



‰ Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.