ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The suspect who shot at a sheriff’s deputy Wednesday was apprehended Saturday, Feb. 22 around 10 p.m. outside a motel in Evansville, Indiana.
According to a press release from MCSO Investigator Sgt. Steve Heise, United States Marshals and Vandenburgh County Indiana sheriff’s deputies assisted in
finding Jacob Hammond, Amber Lehman, and Jonathan Buckner, who is also from Clarksville.
A Vandenburgh Sheriff’s Office sergeant said all three were in possession of firearms and meth-making ingredients. Hammond was bitten by a K9 while trying to escape and had to be treated at the hospital for his injuries.
All three were booked in to the Vandenburgh County jail. Hammond and Lehman will await extradition back to Clarksville after they face local charges in Vandenburgh County.
At the same time Hammond and Lehman were being arrested in Indiana, 19th Judicial Drug Task Force agents and Montgomery County Sheriff investigators were arresting Howard Hand. Hand was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on outstanding meth manufacturing and evading charges.
Hand was the driver of the vehicle that fled DTF Agents, crashed through a fence, got stuck in a pasture and ran on foot. Hand is a known acquaintance of Hammond and Lehman and was thought to have been accompanying them.
“The apprehension of Hammond, Lehman, and Hand are a testament to the hard work, great coordination, and cooperation of several agencies that worked with us on this case. Everyone worked tirelessly and did not stop until these dangerous criminals were apprehended,” said Sheriff John Fuson. “I want to thank the Vandenburgh County Indiana Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service for their help.”
Investigators have been working to find Hammond and his accomplices since Wednesday, when Hammond fled during a meth bust in Montgomery County and fired at a deputy during a chase. The deputy was not injured, but the patrol car was struck.
The black Toyota pickup truck Hammond was driving during the pursuit was located and had been listed stolen out of Stewart County a few days prior.
Warrants were issued for Hammond for attempted criminal homicide, felony evading, and theft of property with a bond of $600,000.
He also had an outstanding warrant for violation of community corrections with no bond.
Amber Nicole Lehman had an outstanding warrant for a violation of probation and a court issued capias for multiple drug offenses.
The incident occurred near the Montgomery County/Stewart County line.
19th Judicial Drug Task Force agents were addressing a meth complaint around 1 p.m. near Jim Ledford Rd. when a vehicle pulled up to the scene. Agents tried to initiate a conversation with the male driver and female passenger but the vehicle sped off, crashing through several fences leading into a field.
The vehicle became stuck, and both the passenger and driver fled on foot.
MCSO’s K-9 unit responded to the scene and caught the female passenger, Jessica Hutchinson.
Investigator Blanchard was headed to the scene when he noticed a small, flat black, older model, 4 door Toyota pickup leaving the area near Jim Ledford Road with two occupants. Blanchard turned around and attempted to stop the vehicle.
Blanchard pursued the vehicle down Indian Mound road towards Stewart County when the driver of the vehicle pointed a semi-automatic pistol out the window and fired multiple shots at Investigator Blanchard’s vehicle. The suspect vehicle eluded Blanchard.