BREAKING: Manhunt underway in West Alabama for armed arson suspect

LAMAR COUNTY, Ala. – Law enforcement are searching for an armed arson suspect in Lamar County, Alabama.

Monroe County, Mississippi Sheriff Cecil Cantrell tells WCBI that an arson suspect from Lowndes County was spotted by his deputies in Hamilton on Monday morning.

Cantrell identified a suspect but has since asked that the person’s name be removed from our stories.

The suspect has now been identified as Jacob Ray Conn, 25, of Steens, Miss.

Conn allegedly tried to ram a Monroe County deputy’s patrol vehicle. Deputies then shot out the suspect’s tires during a pursuit that went through Caledonia.

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department has not released any information at this time.

Cantrell says the arson fire occurred at P&R Scrap on Highway 45 in Lowndes County on Sunday night.

A press release from Lowndes County Sheriff Mike Arledge details the events leading up to the search for the suspect.

On December 30th at 9:46 a.m., a report was received of a fire to the office building of P & R scrap located on 11174 Hwy 45 North.

On December 30th at 5:00 p.m., Lowndes County deputies were called to P & R Scrap to a report of a burglary of the business. The investigation is ongoing.

On December 31st at 5:11 a.m., a report of a vehicle fire in close proximity to P & R Scrap was received.

On December 31st at 5:31 a.m., a report of a vehicle fire in close proximity to P & R Scrap was received.

On December 31st at 8:15 a.m., Lowndes County deputies assisted Monroe County deputies in pursuing a vehicle that was stolen out of Lowndes County last week.

The investigation into all of the listed events are still under investigation and we cannot confirm if these events are related until the investigation is complete. Lowndes County deputies are assisting Monroe County and Lamar County authorities in the pursuit of the suspect who fled from Monroe County deputies. This is a multi-jurisdictional investigation and information will be release when it can be confirmed.

WCBI has a crew on Highway 18 and will continue to follow this story, as more information becomes available.