Hit with 11 other felonies; Allegedly led lawmen on 100 mph chase
A million dollar bond has been set for a Wetumka man charged with a dozen felonies, including kidnapping his own brother and a second man.
Before the suspect was captured near Hanna he led lawmen on a 100 mph chase through Mc-Intosh County, according to authorities.
Joshua Duane Butler, 37, was ordered back to court at 9 a.m. on Sept. 26 for a pre-preliminary conference on the 12 charges.
The second kidnap victim, Layton Douglas Flud II, 53, of Eufaula, was also charged with two counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute and with obstructing an officer. His bond is $200,000. He, too, is to report to court on Sept. 26.
Butler’s girlfriend, Felicia Ann Whitetree, 41, of Wetumka, was with Butler and Flud at the time of their arrest.
Whitetree is charged with distribution of CDS, including with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction; possession of a sawed-off shotgun/rifle and obstructing an officer.
Her bond is $250,000. She also reports back to court on Sept. 26.
Butler’s lengthy list of charges includes: – two counts of kidnapping – domestic assault and battery – possession of a firearm while committing a felony – endangering others while attempting to elude an officer – two counts of running a police roadblock – resisting a police officer in performance of duties – assault and battery on a police officer – unauthorized use of a motor vehicle – possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction – possession of a sawed off shotgun/rifle – possession of marijuana, including possession with intent to distribute – driving while license is suspended – malicious injury to property – less than $1,000.
Investigator Kevin Branscum, with the District Attorney’s Office District 25, stated in a Probable Cause Affidavit that on Aug. 17 Aaron Butler, brother of Joshua Butler, called the McIntosh County Sheriff ’s Office and reported that Joshua Butler came to his residence in Wetumka, demanded the keys to his truck and took him to a rural area of Hughes County where they picked up two females, identified as Felicia Whitetree and Laina Bear.
Aaron Butler reportedly attempted to flee on foot at that time but was caught by his brother.
The four then went to the residence of Layton Flud near Eufaula, where Flud and Joshua Butler got into a verbal altercation about Flud allegedly claiming to have seen Whitetree having sex with Aaron Butler, according to the report.
“Confronting Layton was the reason (Joshua Butler) forced Aaron to this location so that ‘all parties’ would be present to figure out who was lying,” Branscum stated.
Joshua began beating Aaron, who managed to escape and ran to a neighbor’s house to call authorities.
Branscum said Joshua then ordered Layton back into the truck or he would shoot him. Layton and the two women entered the vehicle.
McIntosh County Sheriff Deputy Zach Todd arrived as the truck was leaving and pursued the vehicle, which drove into a wooded area.
“Layton states that the driver then began ordering Felicia to throw a firearm and large bags of marijuana out the window,” according to Branscum.
Joshua then reportedly turned the vehicle around and came toward Dep. Todd, who attempted to block the roadway by parking his cruiser in the middle of the road.
The fleeing vehicle went around the roadblock, struck a mailbox and continued its escape.
Branscum said at this point he joined the chase.
Deputies Dalton Thomas, Doug Tallon and Matthew Youngblood established a roadblock but were unsuccessful in stopping the truck.
“(Butler) continued driving recklessly, passing numerous other motorists, running off the roadway, running stop signs and driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph,” Branscum said.
He said eventually Butler attempted to turn onto a county road east of Hanna, lost control of his vehicle, entering a ditch.
“Due to the extreme nature of this case and the defendant’s apparent willingness to put other people into immediate danger, I then ran my vehicle into the side of the defendant’s vehicle in an attempt to incapacitate it,” Branscum said. As the suspect exited the vehicle he confronted Branscum, injuring his left knee.
“(Butler) entered the heavily wooded tree line. He was taken into custody moments later after law enforcement pursued him on foot and deployed a taser to incapacitate him,” Branscum said.
Officers retrieved items that had been thrown from the truck, including 3.2 pounds of marijuana and a sawedoff .22 caliber rifle.
Branscum said that during the investigation it was determined that the firearm and the marijuana actually belonged to Felicia Whitetree.
“She said she was supposed to receive methamphetamine in exchange for the marijuana but that never happened. She said she does not smoke marijuana, but intended to give it to her cousins,” Branscum said.
She also reportedly told Branscum that she had given the bag of marijuana to Flud “so he could clean it.”
Flud also said he purchased the firearm and gave it to Whitetree, according to Branscum.
