On September 3, Keon Dewayne Leonard, who had been arrested on a warrant for assault of a public servant or judge, successfully kicked out a window of a moving Houston County Sheriff’s Office patrol truck and escaped the vehicle. According to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy subsequently chased Leonard and utilized a Taser to bring him under control following the incident.
The sequence of events began with Leonard's arrest in Houston County. The sheriff’s office stated that officers encountered a significant struggle when attempting to handcuff Leonard. His notable physical stature, measuring 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 260 pounds, necessitated the use of two sets of handcuffs to secure him. Once Leonard was placed inside the patrol truck, he managed to manipulate his handcuffs, moving them from behind his back to the front of his body, as reported by the sheriff's office.
With his hands now in front, Leonard initiated an attempt to flee the moving vehicle. He began forcefully kicking the window of the patrol truck. Newly released video footage and accompanying photographs illustrate the severity of his efforts, showing repeated attempts to shatter the glass. These actions ultimately resulted in the window breaking completely, and the door of the patrol truck also sustained a dent from the impact. The video specifically captures Leonard maneuvering himself through the shattered window opening and exiting the truck while it was still in motion.
Following Leonard's exit from the vehicle, a deputy immediately began pursuing him on foot. During this pursuit, the deputy deployed her Taser to effectively regain control of Leonard. Once subdued, he was secured and placed into an alternative patrol vehicle. From there, he was transported directly to the Houston County Jail, where he remains in custody.
In addition to the original charge stemming from the warrant for assault of a public servant or judge, Leonard now faces a series of new charges directly related to his escape attempt and the damage inflicted during the incident. These new charges include evading arrest, attempting to escape while arrested, and destruction of property. He is currently held at the Houston County Jail, with his bond set at $30,000. This incident highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement during arrests and transport of individuals, particularly when suspects resort to desperate measures to avoid custody.
