Aggravated Kidnapping and Aggravated Robbery:
Harrison County deputies were alerted by a 911 phone call that an Uber driver from Tarrant County had been kidnapped, and his vehicle stolen by a person he picked up as a fare. The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
"The victim, Ekpono Eckponobong, stated he had been dispatched to an address in Bedford, Texas and after making the pickup, the suspect allegedly instructed the driver to go to Shreveport where the suspect's family had been killed. Once in Shreveport, the suspect stated to the driver that he was to go back to Fort Worth. The driver stated the suspect placed a knife to his throat and ordered him out of the vehicle, while still in motion as he was heading back," said Lieutenant Jay Webb. "The driver slowed the vehicle to a speed where he could jump from the vehicle and the suspect then took control of the vehicle and continued westbound on I-20 from approximately the 606 mile marker, prior to FM 450 exit in Hallsville. Hallsville Police Officer Lavender and deputies located the victim, and he described the alleged suspect as a short white male, approximately 25 -30 years old, as well as describing his clothing."
DPS Troopers Isbell and Trooper Henderson located the grey Honda Civic, which was forcibly taken from the owner, abandoned in a ditch Gregg County on I-20.
"The vehicle occupant was missing from the vehicle and as Troopers and deputies were at the vehicle, a wallet with the suspect's identification and other evidence of the offense was located in the vehcile. The identification was for a W/M named Richard Darby and the address for the suspect was issued in Louisiana. Soon after the Troopers and deputies found the vehicle, a shirtless man walked from the wooded area, approximately one quarter of a mile from the location of the vehicle and ran onto the highway flailing his arms and running between the vehicles on the highway. Deputies ran to the suspect and forcibly arrested him and placed him in handcuffs," said Webb.
Webb added that while the suspect was under arrest and placed in the rear of a squad car, he began kicking the door windows and attempting to flee from the vehicle.
"The suspect was transported to Christus GSMC where he attempted, again, to flee from officers and was detained," said Webb.
After he was cleared by medical staff, Darby was placed in the Gregg County Jail with a hold for charges in Harrison County of aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
To hear more about the incident from Chief Deputy B.J. Fletcher, tune into KMHT's newscasts on Tuesday morning.