Lawrence County houses fugitive, after motorcycle, foot pursuit

Suspect pulls gun on deputy, is apprehended
An Everton man who was wanted in Lawrence County on a variety of charges is currently sitting in the Lawrence County Jail after being captured in Christian County. Westley Blake Louderback was booked into the Lawrence County Jail on Friday, Sept. 6; he faces charges which include resisting arrest, armed criminal action and first-degree assault
In Lawrence County, Louderback’s legal woes began in June of 2018, when he was charged with the misdemeanor offenses of operating a vehicle on a highway without a license, operating a motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility and failure to wear a seatbelt. According to online records, Louderback made an appearance at a court hearing on Aug. 7 of that year, but failed to appear at a scheduled hearing the following October.
 Louderback was arrested earlier this spring following a traffic stop on Friday, April 26, with another passenger. The officer who searched him reported finding a tin circular disk in his pocket which contained three baggies; two baggies contained a white crystal residue and one contained three-and-a-half ounces of a white crystal substance which tested positive for methamphetamine.
The officer also reported finding a loaded shotgun in the backseat of the car, as well as a glass pipe which also tested positive for methamphetamine. Louderback was taken into custody on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance. He was released on Saturday, April 27 after posting a $400 cash bond and a $15,000 surety bond.
Louderback’s latest charges stem from an incident which took place on July 13, when he allegedly fled from a Lawrence County deputy sheriff. According to a probable cause statement in the case, the deputy reported he was parked at the intersections of Highway Z and 286 when he saw Louderback approach from the north on Highway Z while riding a motorcycle. The deputy said he had seen the motorcycle 10 days earlier at a camper trailer where he and another deputy had attempted to serve Louderback with a felony warrant.
When Louderback saw the deputy at highways Z and 286, he allegedly attempted to flee; the deputy pursued. Louderback’s motorcycle died, and he continued to flee on foot. The deputy stated that he ordered him to stop and get on the ground, but Louderback instead pulled out a large pistol from the waistband of his jeans. Seeing this, the deputy jumped behind a large tree for cover.
Another Lawrence County deputy sheriff and a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper arrived to help search for Louderback. The other deputy reported locating Louderback, and it was stated he fled from a vehicle being driven by Ashley Thom as she was backing it out of a driveway.
Louderback was found in Christian County on Wednesday, Sept. 4. According to KY3, law enforcement attempted to pull him over in a traffic stop; he then jumped out of his vehicle and took off on foot. He was located several hours later after a homeowner called 911 and reported Louderback was hiding in his shed. A request for a statement from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s office remained unanswered as of press time.
Louderback’s latest charges include two counts of first-degree assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest and driving without a license. Online records show that Louderback also faces charges in Dade County for first-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools and resisting arrest, and in Christian County for two counts of non-support.
Thom was arrested on charges of hindering prosecution, according to the probable cause statement, but online records do not show any charges have been filed against her in that case. She is currently being held at the Lawrence County Jail for another law enforcement agency; Sheriff Brad DeLay said she is being held for a Dade County law enforcement agency. Online records show Thom faces charges in Dade County for resisting arrest, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. Thom is also facing charges in Lawrence County for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.