On Friday, Nov. 18, around 6:45 p.m., deputies initiated a traffic stop on I-10, east of Marianna.
During the stop, the driver, Claude Lawrence Ballard III, shoved the deputy, closed the door and fled east at a high speed. Ballard stopped driving near Grand Ridge and fled on foot.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Tracking Unit was activated and quickly established a track.
The K-9s tracked Ballard to a hotel on Highway 69 near I-10. While the K-9s were searching the perimeter of the hotel, deputies saw a subject fitting the description of Ballard get into a vehicle with two other people.
A traffic stop was conducted on that vehicle and Ballard was taken into custody.
Ballard is being charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
More charges may be forth coming as the investigation continues.
Sheriff Edenfield is proud of the teamwork and quick response from JCSO deputies, and thankful everyone involved is safe.
