Search for wanted man continues on Monday afternoon

The search for a man wanted from New York continues on Monday afternoon and on into the evening. As of 6:30 pm the suspect still has not been found.

The Elizabethtown Police Department, Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Highway Patrol along with the SABLE helicopter from New Hanover County and the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office helicopter were all searching the woods surrounding the area of Dyson and Horne Streets near Elizabethtown.

The Elizabethtown Christian Academy was placed on lockdown.

Bladen County Sheriff Jim McVicker said the SABLE helicopter was requested to assist officers searching on the ground because the SABLE helicopter is equipped with a FLIR system which the county’s helicopter does not currently have.

FLIR or forward looking infrared system has the capability to detect body heat in thick covering such as woods or dense underbrush.

“We don’t have that and I want that. We desperately need it,” said McVicker.

The incident that triggered the search began about 10:30 a.m. on Monday when law enforcement officers recognized a man who was wanted on  charges in a neighborhood near the intersection of Dyson and Horne streets. Bladen County Sheriff Major Larry Guyton said on Monday morning that the officers attempted to arrest the man when he managed to break free and fled into nearby woods.

The man is described as a black male standing approximately 6-feet tall and weighing about 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing black sweat pants with no shirt, no socks and no shoes.