NEW CASTLE, Pa. — New Castle police are in search of a convicted murderer who fled Thursday from officers who were serving a warrant on him, Channel 11 News has learned.
Authorities said Ernest Chapman, 34, should be considered armed and dangerous.
“(Officers) tried to serve a warrant on him, and he fled with a gun,” New Castle Police Chief Robert Salem said.
Channel 11 learned Chapman is a convicted murderer, who just got out of jail a few months ago.
Salem said police were serving multiple felony warrants for drug and parole violations on Chapman when he grabbed a gun, got into a car, put the gun to the driver’s head and made him drive. It’s unclear whether Chapman knew the driver.
The car eventually crashed, and Chapman took off into the woods behind an elementary school, authorities said.
“We had to put the school in lockdown,” Salem said.
Officers and K-9s attempted to track down Chapman, but no trace of him was found. Police said they believe someone picked him up and took him out of the area.
Salem urged no one to approach Chapman if he is seen.
“He is armed and dangerous,” the police chief said.
Authorities said Chapman is originally from Detroit, and they continue to try to track him down.
Anyone with information on Chapman’s whereabouts is asked to call police immediately.
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