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Fleeing Suspect Caught Neck Deep in Manure Pit

By Kamika Dunlap on April 23, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

As we have discussed how chewing off fingertips to conceal identity and elude police could be viewed as taking somewhat drastic measures. But a fleeing suspect choosing a manure pit for his hideout may be an even more bizarre escape plan.

Police were searching for Thomas Hovis Jr. 52, wanted on numerous drug charges and found him neck-deep in a vat of liquid manure, the Journal Gazette reports.

Needless to say, the hideout spot was a rather unusual place.

SWAT officers found the drug suspect hiding in a farm's manure pit. They spotted his head peering out from the cesspool deep with frigid hog and dog feces. Police said he was in the manure pit for at least an hour.

Eventually, authorities removed Hovis from the hideout but he became combative and had to be tasered twice.

Hovis was then taken to a hospital, where he was treated for hypothermia before being hauled off to jail.

This situation may have been a bit like deja-vu for Hovis.

In the 1980's Hovis tried to elude police and fled Indiana to Florida to try to escape a murder charge. Police eventually caught and arrested him after a barroom fight.

This time however, Hovis was wanted on several warrants - including manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm.

He is being held in jail without bail on the following charges:

  • manufacturing meth;
  • possession of meth;
  • maintaining a common nuisance;
  • possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon
  • being a habitual offender;
  • being a habitual substance offender; and
  • three counts of possession of marijuana and two counts of possession of paraphernalia.

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