Tennessee fugitive sighted in Marissa, caught in Kentucky

A fugitive from Tennessee wanted on terrorism charges was believed to be in the St. Clair County region before being caught in Kentucky.

Scotty Eugene Priest, 53, was wanted by the Decatur County (Tenn.) Sheriff’s Department on charges of harassment and attempting to commit an act of terrorism. He was also wanted by the Parsons Police Department on unspecified charges.

According to a post on Facebook from Decatur County and reposted by the Caseyville Police Department, Priest has made online threats to kill law enforcement officers. West Tennessee Fugitive Recovery officials confirmed that Priest made threats to shoot and kill police officers, naming some officers specifically.

They confirmed that Priest was sighted in St. Clair County on Saturday morning, but said there have been no reports or sightings since. Marissa police have since posted on Facebook that he was seen there.

In the post in which Priest allegedly threatened the officers, he posted a picture of himself with what appears to be an air rifle, according to Joshua Galigher, lead agent with West Tennessee Fugitive Recovery. However, Galigher said the family confirmed that Priest did have firearms with him.

Priest is a former Marine, and his family told West Tennessee Fugitive Recovery that he is “unstable and off medication,” police said.

However, several law enforcement agencies confirmed late Sunday that Priest was apprehended without incident in Russellville, Ky. Decatur County authorities said law enforcement in Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee worked with the United States Marshal Service, FBI, and Homeland Security to locate him.

This story was originally published February 14, 2016 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Tennessee fugitive sighted in Marissa, caught in Kentucky."