After nearly 15 months on the run, fugitive Danny West Jr. is back in jail.
On February 25, 2023, West, who was being held in the Ben Hill County Jail, escaped from a funeral in Douglas. He had requested to attend the funeral and Ben Hill County authorities agreed to his request. Coffee County deputies accompanied West to the funeral; however, during the service, he escaped custody and has been on the run ever since.
On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, deputies went to a Shirley Avenue address in an attempt to find West. When they arrived, a subject, later identified as West, ran from the back of the home. West was running toward East Baker Highway, jumping fences as he went. Sgt. Jesse Tovar gave chase and eventually caught West. During the arrest, Sgt. Tovar found a clear bag with a white powdery substance in it on West’s person. He contacted Alex Gentry, a drug unit detective, who responded to the scene.
West complained of injury and wanted to be evaluated. He was taken to Coffee Regional Medical Center for treatment and was quickly medically cleared. In addition to charges related to the escape, West will also face illegal drug charges. He was transported to the Ben Hill County Jail where he remains.
Along with Sgt. Tovar and Det. Gentry, deputies Jacob Greene, Austin Patton, and Joshua Young assisted with apprehending West.