April 09, 2009

Drug Trafficking suspect still at large after Police Chase

This afternoon at about 4:00PM, an undercover drug investigation in the area Bachman and 9th Street was underway where sheriff's detectives were purchasing Cocaine from a suspect that had been previously identified as being 23 yoa Antonio Sains of Paducah.

Immediately after Sains sold the Cocaine, in the street from his car, sheriff's detectives attempted to block in and surround Sains to arrest him. Sains drove up over a curb and drove around the deputies leading them on a pursuit that lasted about 5 minutes. Sains drove east over to South 4th, to Tennessee Street, then west on Tennessee over to 11th, then south on 11th Street, then into the Littleville area. From Littleville, he drove Chester Hack to Old Mayfield Road. Deputies lost the suspect in this area. Sains began running stop signs and deputies were unable to keep him in sight. Minutes later, Dep. Steve Croft found the abandoned 2004 beige Monte Carlo in the middle of N.24th Street near the Center Street address.

Sheriff's deputies and Paducah Police attempted to set up a perimeter also tracking the suspect with a Paducah Police tracking dog. Approx 60 yards into the track, deputies recovered a red ball cap that the suspect had been wearing during the drug sale and pursuit. The track led to the area of Elmwood Court. Deputies and Paducah Police checked several apartments there but were unable to locate him.

His vehicle was seized and a search warrant was being obtained to search the car and recover several items in the car related to this investigation, including cash.

During the planning stages of this investigation, sheriff's detectives learned that Sains had an extensive criminal record which included a 2nd Degree Assault conviction in 2006 where Sains had shot another man on the Northside of Paducah. He also has felony convictions for Tampering with Physical Evidence, felony Fleeing or Evading, drug possession convictions, and others. Detectives also had received information that Sains is usually armed with a handgun when selling Cocaine. He is currently on parole through the Kentucky Department of Probation and Parole. They were notified of the sheriff's department investigation late Thursday.

Sheriff's detectives are actively searching for this suspect and ask anyone that knows of his whereabouts, to contact area law enforcement.

"This suspect has an extensive criminal record and based on his obvious continued disregard for the law, needs to be in jail and not on the streets on Paducah and McCracken County endangering our citizens."

Arrest warrants were being obtained late Friday for Sains charging him with charges including:

1) Trafficking in a 1st Degree Controlled Substance Cocaine

2) Fleeing or Evading 1st Degree 2nd Offense

3) Wanton Endangerment

4) Reckless Driving

End of Release

Thanks,

Sheriff Jon Hayden

McCracken Co. Sheriff's Department