UPDATED: Manhunt ends; two suspects in custody

Published 1:27 pm Monday, May 13, 2019

A nearly daylong manhunt ended in a trailer and two linen drawers.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said Zachary Brooks, 22, and Justin Tilley, 17, were taken into a custody shortly before 1:30 p.m. Monday in a trailer off of Miller Street in Vicksburg.

“One suspect was found under a bed in a linen drawer,” Pace said. “And the other, was found under another bed in a linen drawer.”

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Pace said deputies confronted the owners of the trailer and had a brief standoff before being allowed entry into the trailer. Two adults and one juvenile were arrested for what Pace said was “harboring” of the suspects.

Brooks, Tilley and the other three arrested Monday have all been transported to the Warren County Jail.

In earlier updates, Pace said Brooks and Tilley were wanted for possession of stolen property involving the theft of a vehicle they wrecked early last week and abandoned.

Pace said deputies received a tip Sunday through Crime Stoppers that the pair were traveling in the area in a gold Buick Century.

A car matching that description was seen by deputies about 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Halls Ferry and Fisher Ferry roads.

Deputies attempted to stop the car, which went south on Halls Ferry Road. As the chase neared Timberlane Subdivision, the Buick containing the pair rammed a marked sheriff’s unit.

The car later broke down and Brooks and Tilley fled on foot into the subdivision with deputies in pursuit. Deputies also set up road blocks and stopped and checked cars driving in the area.

During the search, deputies received a report that a handgun was taken from a car in the subdivision.

The search of the two suspects, which began Sunday evening, involved more than a dozen deputies, including K-9 units. Pace said Sunday night, officers with the Vicksburg Police Department, including the department’s drone team, and an agent from the Mississippi Department of Narcotics assisted in the search.

“The community support through this entire search has been amazing,” Pace said. “We followed down every lead we received and this one just happened to pay off.

“I also want to thank to the residents of Timberlane,” Pace said. “I know they were tired of us stopping their cars, and searching their cars. I am glad we were able to give them this result.”

Pace said the gun reported stolen had not been located, but officials with the Sheriff’s Office were awaiting a search warrant to search the trailer.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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