After several months on the lam, Donte Jamar Parker II, whose handcuffed escape from Elyria police back in February gained notoriety, has been apprehended. Captured on a quiet Friday morning, Parker’s flight from justice came to a halt when Elyria Police responded to a sighting of the wanted fugitive near the intersection of Riverside Drive and 11th Street, as reported by Cleveland19.
Elyria police officer Juker managed to quickly to chase down Parker as he tried escaping from the rear of a home, eventually taking him into custody after a pursuit that led into the woods and through the Black River. Captain Bill Lantz of the Elyria Police Department lauded Officer Juker’s “persistence and determination” in what he described as “the safe apprehension of a violent fugitive who posed a significant threat to our community,” according to a release obtained by Cleveland19.
The backstory of Parker’s escape unfolded when Elyria officers visited an apartment for a welfare check on February 3, where they found him hiding. Parker, having several outstanding felony warrants and also in possession of a firearm at the time, was detained. However, in an audacious move, he managed to slip from police grasp as they led him outside the building, as detailed by WHIO. The pursuit of Parker included multiple officers, drone deployment, and K-9 units scouring the vicinity for days…