Robbery Suspect Arrested Following 12-Hour Madison Manhunt

A man wanted for a carjacking in Ohio and the theft of an RV in Michigan was taken into custody Friday night after a 12-hour manhunt in Madison.

Police said Francis Sumner, 51, committed a carjacking in Ohio, then drove to Michigan, where he stole an RV, then somehow ended up in Madison, were he jumped out of the vehicle around 7 a.m. Friday and fled into the woods, according to police. 

Up to 100 local police officers, state police troopers and members of federal agencies were involved in the search, which spanned thousands of square acres and ended on Suffolk Drive, where police took him into custody.

“He’s been in the woods for almost 12 hours, running, hasn’t had any food in that period of time. So he looks pretty exhausted and tired right now,” Captain Joseph Race, of Madison Police, said after taking Sumner into custody.

During the manhunt, Madison residents were asked to stay inside with the doors locked because they through Sumner had a gun.

Special precautions were also taken at two schools, Brown Middle School and Ryerson Elementary School, as police searched for the man wanted on robbery charges in Ohio and Michigan. 

Police said the case started as a report of a suspicious vehicle and Sumner has no known connection to the area. 

“He has no real connection to our town. Maybe he was trying to take the back roads through the area, ended up being asleep for a few hours, “ Race said.

Madison police charged Sumner with interfering with an officer and larceny in the first degree.

Sumner was also charged as a fugitive from justice and held without bond.

Sumner appeared in court on Oct. 11 and remains in custody. His bond was set at $510,000.

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