A man took off running on foot after deputies pulled him over near Celanese Road and Auto Mall Parkway in Rock Hill on Wednesday, triggering a search that stretched across the area before coming up empty. The York County Sheriff's Office identified the man as Devan Laurise Johnson and said he jumped out and ran from the stop, leaving investigators searching for him for hours afterward.
According to the York County Sheriff's Office, deputies and a K-9 unit combed the area near the traffic stop looking for Johnson but were unable to locate him. The office said he was last seen wearing light-colored jeans and a light-colored shirt. In a 2:50 p.m. update, the office said he may have gotten a ride out of the area.
Johnson is wanted on active family court bench warrants, the sheriff's office said, though the exact number or nature of those warrants was not detailed in the update. The image the office circulated of Johnson was a 2023 arrest photo, meaning his current appearance may differ from the picture shared with the public.
What Deputies Are Asking Residents To Do
The sheriff's office is urging anyone who spots Johnson to call 911 immediately rather than approach him. Residents with information on where he might be can also reach out to Crime Stoppers of York County, which takes anonymous tips through its website or by phone at 1-877-409-4321.
The sheriff's office maintains a separate Top 10 Wanted list for people with active outstanding warrants, and that page spells out the same tip process for anyone with information on wanted individuals, directing callers to contact the YCSO directly or submit a tip online through Crime Stoppers. Anonymous tips can also be filed through the organization's own contact page.
Search Status Remains Unclear
As of the sheriff's office's update, Johnson had not been reported located. No further details on the traffic stop itself, such as why Johnson was pulled over, were included in the release, and deputies have not said whether anyone has been identified in connection with the ride he is believed to have taken out of the area.
