Brandon Spears, 32, a resident of Highway 62 in rural Washington Parish, was arrested Friday following an extensive manhunt, according to Washington Parish Chief Deputy Mike Haley.

Spears was transported to the Washington Parish Jail and is being held without bond.

Haley said that Spears’ saga began several weeks ago when he was sentenced on possession of methamphetamine, morphine and oxycodone. His sentence of five years at hard labor was to begin on Sept. 24, when he was scheduled to turn himself in.

On motion of Spears’ attorney, that date was extended by the court to Sept. 28.  Spears did not turn himself in as ordered by the court and Parish Sheriff Randy Seal obtained a warrant for his arrest, Haley said.

Washington Parish deputies located Spears on Thursday afternoon at his residence off of Highway 62. He fled into adjacent woods when deputies arrived, Haley said.

A manhunt was started with Washington Parish deputies and detectives, along with a Rayburn Correctional Center canine team. RCC canines tracked Spears approximately five miles through a heavily wooded area. The manhunt continued until after dark and then resumed early Friday morning.

Haley said that Friday morning, the canine team tracked Spears to an unoccupied residence on Highway 438 in the Stateline community. Spears had reportedly broken into the residence after the homeowners left to go to work and was found hiding inside.

In addition to his original drug charges, Spears now faces additional charges of contempt of court, resisting arrest and unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling.

“Mr. Spears made very poor decisions when he failed to turn himself in and then fled from our officers,” Seal said. “This is a good example of what illegal drug abuse will do to a person. He will still have to go to the Department of Corrections, but I suspect his sentence will be increased.

“Our deputies and detectives did an outstanding job, and we are grateful to the canine team from RCC. They are a great group of men and are always eager to assist us when we call on them.”