YOUNGSTOWN — An escaped Alabama convict was arrested on a DUI charge while heading toward Panama City Beach, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced.
BCSO responded to a call at about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in reference to a reckless driver on U.S. 231 in a white Toyota Tundra. A deputy conducted a traffic stop at the U.S. post office in Youngstown.
The driver of the Tundra, 46-year-old John Edward Sharpe, began to drive erratically in the post office parking lot. The deputy approached the Tundra and was able to take the suspect into custody despite the fact he was verbally combative and appeared intoxicated, BCSO reported.
Further investigation revealed Sharpe had escaped Monday from the Red Eagle Work Center in Jefferson County, AlabamaSharpe had been incarcerated on a conviction of robbery in nearby Shelby County, Alabama., and the Tundra he was driving had been reported stolen in Alabama, officials said.
Officers found a cooler in the vehicle with open bottles of alcohol and prescription pills in a medicine bottle with the label altered. Also found in the vehicle was a large amount of cash that was in the vehicle at the time of its theft, officers said.
Sharpe initially was arrested on a charge of DUI with additional charges pending. Other charges from other jurisdictions are expected.