Philpot announced three Gans residents were arrested on drug charges Monday evening based information developed while officers were hunting for Jeremy Eugene Kirby, 29, of Rison, Ark.
Kirby is a suspect in the robbery, shooting, assault and kidnapping of Stanley "Sonny" Small, 45. Small suffered a shotgun blast to the upper thigh and a cut over the eye. He was flown by helicopter to St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith, Ark., and underwent surgery Friday. More surgeries are expected to repair the shotgun wound, family members said.
Philpot reported in a press release Tuesday that the sheriff's dispatcher received a call from a Nicut volunteer firefighter at about 10:45 a.m. Friday requesting assistance on a medical call in the Lee Creek area. The firefighter told the dispatcher that the victim, Small, appeared to have been shot and tied up and that the suspect was possibly still in the area.
Based on information from the victim, area law enforcement officers began looking for Kirby and the late-model black Chevrolet truck that he was driving and which belongs to Small. Sequoyah County Sheriff's deputies spotted the suspect driving the vehicle on State Highway 101, at a high rate of speed, Philpot reported. The deputies pursued the suspect and he turned into the Akins Cemetery, "leaving a path of overturned and demolished headstones," Philpot said. The suspect then crashed the truck into a tree along the south fence of the cemetery and Kirby fled into the wooded area south of the cemetery.
Law enforcement officers began the manhunt for Kirby, and as a result of the pursuit, the Belfonte and Central Schools were locked down for students' safety (see related story on this page). Area residents were also cautioned to be careful, especially those who had been at work all day while their homes were left unattended.
Philpot said numerous law enforcement agencies gathered at the cemetery to begin the manhunt in the area where Kirby was last seen. "The remote location of the densely-wooded area complicated the search on the ground and in the air," Philpot said. "Officers continued their efforts until the early morning hours before scaling back the search."
An Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) airplane and helicopter were called in to assist in the search along with dogs, Philpot said.
Philpot said as the investigation into the case continued, deputies developed information on a second suspect, Dana Louise McKlemurry, 24. Based on the information, Philpot said, the offices obtained an arrest warrant for McKlemurry on charges of being an accessory after the fact. Area law enforcement officers teamed up and went to a Gans residence where they found McKlemurry and arrested her.
"While at the Gans location," Philpot said, "officers observed chemicals and equipment consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamine. Officers secured the location and obtained a search warrant, which resulted in additional charges on McKlemurry for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a precursor (ephedrine), endeavoring to manufacture a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. McKlemurry is being held at the Sequoyah County Jail without bond.
Two additional suspects, Tom Lee Fenn, 29, and Regina Anne Fenn, 27, both of Gans, were also arrested.
Tom Lee Fenn was booked into the Sequoyah County Jail on charges of endeavoring to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of a precursor substance (ephedrine), possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held without bail.
Tom Fenn is also facing robbery, kidnapping and motor vehicle theft based on the investigation in the assault on, shooting and kidnapping of Small, Philpot said.
Regina Anne Fenn was booked into the county jail on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released on a $1,500 bond.
Participating in the investigation and manhunt are the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Department, Sallisaw Police Department, the OHP, Vian Police Department and the Crawford County (Ark.) Sheriff's Department.
