Knox Co. escapee from Oct. 2016 captured in Laurel Co.

LONDON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Laurel County Sheriff John Root says a joint investigation between the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest at a man who escaped from Knox County back in October of 2016.

Deputies say a London police officer reported a suspicious individual off of Cherry Avenue that at around 12:40 p.m. on Monday.  Working together, investigators were able to track the man down at a mobile home off of KY 1223, near US 25W.  Deputies say 39-year-old Jason Shelby Merida was found hiding in a closet.  According to law enforcement, Merida refused to come out, but was taken into custody after a brief struggle.

Merida, of Corbin, was charged with a Knox County warrant of arrest charging escape, and resisting arrest, along with Laurel County bench warrants for failure to appear in court on charges of fleeing or evading police, theft by unlawful taking.  Merida also faces additional Knox County bench warrants for failure to appear in court on shoplifting charges.

Merida was taken to the Laurel County Detention Center.