John Parsons

(KAIR)--The alleged possession of drugs earlier this month in Atchison, coupled with what authorities say was the planned sell of heroin, lands an Iatan, Missouri man in jail, but not before an attempt to run from the law.

26-year-old John Parsons faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, distribution of heroin, use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug crime, as well as felony interference for attempting to flee.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie says Parsons earned the possession charges on May 20, while the heroin-related charge stems from an ongoing investigation that included the controlled buy of a substance believed to be heroin. “We had an encounter with previously, on the 20th, where we did locate drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine, marijuana as well,” Laurie tells MSC News. “He wasn't immediately arrested at that time, so we had the warrant issued for that, and we also had the controlled purchases of the heroin that we had not obtained warrants on yet.”

Laurie says it was shortly after 12 noon Thursday that Parsons was spotted near downtown Atchison, and an attempt to arrest him was made. “We spotted him there behind Massasoit Apartments, in the 300 block of Santa Fe. We encountered him, went around the building, encountered him there, and he was being placed under arrest when a slight struggle occurred and he got away.” Parsons fled to the west, jumped down into the brush, and fled south through a yard.  The Atchison Police Department located him running south and began to chase him through the YMCA construction site.  That's when Parsons fled to the 100 block of South 2nd where the Atchison Police Department was able to take him into custody without further incident. 

Once he was in custody, Parsons was booked into the Atchison County Jail.