Wanted fugitive from Ben Hill County apprehended in Douglas

Two Coffee County drug investigators apprehended Danny West, a wanted man out of Ben Hill County, this weekend after West allegedly fled from the Ben Hill County Courthouse following a proceeding several months ago. 

According to a copy of an incident report from the Coffee County Drug Unit, on December 17, a CCDU detective spotted West, 27, inside Hibbett Sports in Douglas. Another investigator with the unit approached West to confirm his identity, with West responding with a false name. West then attempted to flee and ran towards the Dollar Tree next door. When investigators tried to arrest West, he allegedly resisted, prompting the use of a taser. The report states that "after a brief fight," West was arrested and transported to the Coffee County Law Enforcement Center. 

DouglasNow has reached out to court officials and law enforcement in Ben Hill County regarding West’s escape but Ben Hill officials have not responded. Sources have told DouglasNow that West escaped custody following a sentencing hearing on charges in an armed robbery case in Ben Hill County earlier this year. 

West now also faces a charge of obstruction of a law enforcement officer and was transported to the Ben Hill County Jail following his arrest.