Michigan fugitive arrested in Panola County following chase
Posted/updated on: May 2, 2025 at 2:56 am
PANOLA COUNTY – The Panola County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a wanted man out of Michigan in East Texas following an early Tuesday morning chase, according to our news partner KETK.
A Texas Highway Patrol Trooper conducted a traffic stop on State Highway 315 at FM 1971 in Clayton at around 7:42 a.m. Officials learned that the driver, identified as Sidney Hunter, Jr., 23 of South Holland, Ill., and was wanted out of Michigan. Upon discovery, he reportedly fled. Officials said that Hunter turned onto FM 1970 before heading onto U.S. Highway 79 S towards Carthage.
Other law enforcement agencies in the area responded to the chase, and the Panola County Sheriff’s Office units set up road spikes before the Loop. Hunter made a U-turn before reaching the road spikes and continued driving through a ditch.
“[The driver came] to a stop against the fence at the TG Natural Resources gas processing plant on Highway 79 S at County Road 104,” the sheriff’s office said. “The driver fled on foot into the plant while the two passengers were detained at the vehicle.”
Officials then found the driver in a wooded area behind the plant and arrested him. Hunter was charged with evading arrest/detention with a vehicle, evading arrest, and possession of marijuana.
During the pursuit, two passerby vehicles were involved in a minor rear-end collision where neither driver was injured, officials said.
