By Pat Culverhouse

A bicycle proved to be no match for a Sheriff’s patrol unit in an escape attempt, and a Heflin man is now behind bars after coming in second in both the chase and ensuing struggle with Webster Parish deputies.

Terry D. Burt, a 42-year-old resident of the 1900 block of Hwy. 792, is facing a variety of charges including resisting officers by flight, two counts of resisting an officer with force, possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) and violating traffic laws which apply to bicycles.

Burt reportedly is housed at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center under a $502 bond.

Sheriff Jason Parker said deputies were patrolling the Hwy. 792 area early Tuesday afternoon due to a string of recent burglaries when they noticed Burt on a bicycle, leaving an address that had been recently burglarized. He reportedly had been a person of interest in the reported burglaries.

When Lt. Chase Wimberly and Sgt. Josh McCormick attempted to stop the suspect, he slowed but refused to stop. When the officers managed to pull in front of him, Burt reportedly took to the ditch and went around the unit.

When the pursuit resumed, Burt reportedly was riding in the opposing lane of traffic, causing oncoming vehicles to stop or pull from the roadway. Burt reportedly rode his bicycle into the side of the deputies’ patrol unit, fell and attempted to escape on foot.

Following a brief foot chase, Burt reportedly was caught and began fighting with the officers. He was taken into custody following a brief struggle where he allegedly attempted to kick the deputies.

During the chase and the ensuing struggle, deputies reportedly observed Burt attempting to reach into his pockets. After he was placed under arrest, deputies found a small amount of suspected marijuana in a cigarette box in his pocket.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.