Massive search conducted Saturday for men accused of cashing thousands of dollars in stolen checks

Police used a helicopter, two police K-9 units, borrowed ATV’s and mules, and numerous volunteers in the form of volunteer firefighters, rescue squad members and every day citizens in an attempt to find three wanted men in the woods near Ky. 92E Saturday afternoon.

"We are looking for three suspects suspected of attempting to cash stolen checks. They have already committed that felony plus they fled from me on foot," said Williamsburg Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson, one of the first officers involved in the chase.

Jackson said that the men allegedly cashed eight $900 checks at Cumberland Valley National Bank in Corbin before attempting to do the same at Cumberland Valley National Bank in Williamsburg.

After they went into the Williamsburg bank for a second time about 10 a.m., Jackson said tellers called the police and told them the men had walked next door towards the BP station.

When Detective Bobby Freeman and Jackson pulled into the nearby BP convenient store, the three men fled on foot from a minivan that they were riding in. They ran behind Johnny Wheels and into the nearby woods.

Police set up a perimeter in an attempt to contain the suspects and called for assistance from Williamsburg K-9 Officer Brandon Prewitt and his canine partner Rico.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Jason McCowan and his K-9 partner also responded to the scene and helped track the suspects for nearly three miles through a heavily wooded area.

After both police dogs and their partners reached the point of exhaustion shortly before 3 p.m., police called off much of the search efforts, but kept some officers in the area looking for the three men.

During their search efforts, Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies, Williamsburg and Patterson Creek firefighters, members of the Williamsburg-Whitley County Rescue Squad, and numerous volunteers assisted.

"There has just been tremendous support from the community," Jackson said. "A lot of civilians in the neighborhood called when they saw those guys.

"People brought us water and snacks and helped take care of us. People let us use their ATV’s and mules and things like that. It just says something about our community. They want the same thing we do. They want the bad guys off the street."

Initial reports indicated that there were five Hispanic males involved.

Jackson said that police know there are definitely at least three suspects.

Police seized the red minivan with Tennessee plates that the men were driving.

"We don’t have many details about the vehicle or where it even came from or what they are even doing here in Williamsburg, but we do know that they fled the scene, supposedly have a large amount of cash, and are on the river bank here in Williamsburg somewhere," Jackson said.

Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts are asked to call the Whitley County 911 dispatch center at 549-6017.