UPDATE: Man accused of stealing Jenkins Police car in May, captured

August 6, 2021

Tom Kenny,

Update from August 5, 2021:

WHITESBURG, Ky. (WTVQ) – A man accused of having explosives, stealing a police car, and being on the run from authorities for more than two months, was captured Thursday, according to Whitesburg Police.

According to a post on the department’s Facebook page, Steven Tackett was arrested with the help of U.S. Marshals, Kentucky State Police, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Paintsville Police, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, including the office’s K-9 and Pikeville EMS. No other details of Tackett’s capture were released.

The convicted felon from Brushy Fork, was wanted on eight felony charges, according to Whitesburg Police.

On May 26, 2021, Tackett was being detained at a gas station in Jenkins after guns, ammunition and a grenade were found in his pickup truck, according to investigators.

Published reports at the time said while Tackett was sitting in a the backseat of a Jenkins Police car at the scene with his hands handcuffed behind his back, he managed to get out of the cuffs and drove-off in the cruiser. Late that same night, the police car was found abandoned and out of gas in Pike County, but there was no sign of Tackett until his capture on Thursday.

Original story below from May 26, 2021:

JENKINS, Ky. (WTVQ) – Jenkins Police say an armed man stole one of its police cars on Wednesday, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.

The social media post says if anyone sees a Jenkins Police car, Unit Number 207, to call 911 immediately.

The Letcher County Sheriff’s Office, on its Facebook page, identified the accused cop car thief as Steven Tackett, of Brushy Fork.

Investigators say Tackett is a convicted felon who was being detained at the Double Kwik in Jenkins after guns, ammunition and a small explosive device were found in his pickup truck. They say that’s when Tackett managed to get away, steal the police car and take off north on U.S. 23.

KSP’s Hazardous Device Unit, or bomb squad, was called to the scene to diffuse the explosive device in Tackett’s pickup truck, which according to The Mountain Eagle, is a hand grenade. The Mountain Eagle also reports Tackett was able to get out of his handcuffs and then stole the police car.

State Police, Jenkins Police, Whitesburg Police, the Letcher County Sheriff’s Office and Jenkins Fire Department were all on the scene at the Double Kwik.