Richmond police arrest suspect following chase

RICHMOND, Ky. (WTVQ) – The search for a man who police say showed a weapon and led them on a chase Wednesday morning is in custody.

The search for that suspect prompted Eastern Kentucky University to issue a campus safety alert around 7:41 a.m.

Police say it started when they were called to the Richmond Athletic Club about a man possibly breaking into vehicles in the parking lot.

An officer arrived at the scene and spotted the man in a truck.

When the officer came around to the passenger side of the truck, he says the man tossed a gun into the back seat.

The officer told the man to get out of the truck, but says he took off.

The truck stopped at the Peddlers Mall and the man got out and ran.

Police say they looked in the truck and did not see the gun on the back seat so they set up a perimeter.

Eastern Kentucky University was contacted and a safety alert was issued for a suspect near campus who was possibly armed.

Police did a search of the truck and discovered the gun under the passenger’s seat.

Eastern Kentucky University was contacted again and the safety alert was canceled.

Police say they then received a tip that the suspect may be in a vehicle on South Second Street.

The suspect, Joshua Sparks, was located and arrested.