ADC Inmate Escapes, Attacking Officer

SOURCE

A Texarkana inmate escaped, robbed a couple and attacked a police officer, all happening Saturday evening. Police say 31 year old Joe Dean Keaton is back behind bars Monday. Keaton escaped from the Arkansas Department of Corrections by jumping off a transport bus. He fled to McDonald's where he threatened Brenda and Horace Green by knife. "When I rose, he put the knife up to my stomach," says Brenda Green. "He scared me when he said 'This is a hold up, I want your money and your car keys'," says Horace Green.

From there, Keaton hit the road again, and Officer Jeremy Poole of the Texarkana, Arkansas Police Department was right behind him. Poole found Keaton hiding behind a dumpster. Poole asked him to put his hands up but Keaton took off running. But it did not take long for Poole to catch up. That's when Keaton attacked Poole, trying to get his gun. The two struggled until another officer came to the rescue, ending a potentially fatal fight. "This could have been a very tragic situation had that officer lost his weapon to the suspect," says Lt. Doug Avery with the Texarkana, Arkansas Police Department. Keaton is at the Bi-State Jail and faces numerous charges.