By Billy Davis

An alleged thief who fled Batesville police, and who twice escaped arrest on foot, has turned himself in.

Kendall Lamont Diggs, 31, walked in to the Panola County jail on June 16, according to the jail docket.

Police allege Diggs stole money from the business office at Batesville Civic Center on May 14, when he was working in the city’s work program.

In a June 16 story, The Panolian reported that Diggs had jumped off a rooftop in the Dogwood Hills subdivision, where he was roofing, then fled across Interstate 55 to escape police.

His escape kicked off an unsuccessful half-day search for him in a cornfield and creek southeast of Batesville.

The escape on June 16 came a week after Diggs jumped off a roof on Woodruff Road and fled authorities.

For his escapes, Diggs faces misdemeanor charges for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, said BPD Detective George Williford. The defendant also faces contempt charges for past-due court fines.

Williford said Diggs has not been charged yet with a more serious charge of burglary, which is a felony, related to the alleged theft of cash.

Police have not disclosed the amount of cash that was stolen but a theft of at least $500 triggers a felony in Mississippi. 

Diggs had been advised by his attorney to turn himself in, said Panola Chief Deputy Otis Griffin.

“His folks hired an attorney, and the attorney advised him to turn himself in before he got himself, or got somebody else, hurt,” said Griffin.

The chief deputy said Diggs surrendered to a deputy, Ezell Pegues, at a home in Crowder in a prearranged agreement with the sheriff’s department.

Diggs remains in jail with a small bond of $926. But he also faces misdemeanor fines totaling $1,079 that must be paid before he can bond out.