An update from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office:

 

[Yesterday] afternoon (Monday, February 12th) at approximately 4:30 Sheriff Kirk received a call from Dispatch that there was an altercation in progress at White’s Branch involving a man and a 17 year old juvenile.

Upon deputies’ arrival Justin Fletcher refused to come out of the residence to speak with the deputy. As the deputy called in to Dispatch, Mr. Fletcher fled out the back door into the hills, taking with him a 4-year-old. The child was not wearing shoes and only a short sleeve shirt.

Upon learning that the child was not properly clothed in the cold weather, Sheriff Kirk requested 911 Coordinator Nick Endicott and DES Director Kayla May to come on scene and deploy a drone. Shortly before the drone was deployed, deputies pursued the subject on foot. 2 KSP units arrived on scene to assist as well and began searching the mountain as well. Within minutes Endicott was able to locate Mr. Fletcher and the child with the drone and direct officers to his location.

Deputies were able to take Fletcher into custody and Fletcher has been charged with multiple offenses.

The 4 year year old was evaluated by EMS and returned to his residence.