Updated: Manhunt ended in the arrest of Rodney Blankenship

Updated:

33-year-old Rodney Blankenship is currently housed in Jasper County Jail without bond. On top of his already hefty charges of Unauthorized use of a Vehicle, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and a Probation Violation, Blankenship is now charged with Evading Arrest which is also without bond, and Motion to Adjudicate Guilt with a bond of $15,000.

Blankenship went before Jasper County JP Raymond Hopson Friday morning. He will be extradited to Newton County once his time here is served.

Original story:

A manhunt in Jasper and Newton Counties had law enforcement jumping and citizens questioning everything on Thursday evening.

Shortly after 5:30 on Thursday evening, things got wild in Kirbyille.

According to people on the scene, 33-year-old Rodney Blankenship ditched a car he was riding in on North Margaret St. at the Trout Street exit in Kirbyville. According to investigators, it is believed that he ran from that location on foot to where he was eventually arrested.

Newton County Constable Pct. 1 Colton Havard said, "I was notified of a manhunt taking place on CR 3075 near the county line. Once on scene, Lumberton PD's K9 "Leroy" tracked him in the woods. Myself, Sgt. Ainsworth, and a DPS Trooper crossed the creek and captured him. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail where he is pending other charges".

As reported last week, Blankenship was wanted in Newton County on multiple felony warrants including Unauthorized use of a Vehicle, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and a Probation Violation.

ETB was initially told that the manhunt led to his capture at the Wildcat Refuge in Newton County which is owned by Blankenship, but according to Havard he was actually captured off of East MLK just to the east in a wooded area in Kirbyville. Havard continued, "We believed he was trying to make it back to that location. I was told he continued on foot."

Law enforcement from Kirbyville PD, Lumberton PD, DPS, Newton County, and Jasper County worked together on this group effort. Congratulations to all on a job well done!

ETB will update our readers as more information is made available.

Below: Ainsworth and Havard after the chase