Leesburg community members are on high alert, US Marshals continue to search for the fugitive

LEESBURG, Ky. (FOX 56) — Leesburg residents are on high alert as police continue to search for a fugitive. Authorities said Nathan Ginter could be dangerous.

On Tuesday, U.S. Marshals, Kentucky State Police and other local authorities flocked to Leesburg.

“We had over 50 police officers,” said Charlie Garnett, a Leesburg community member. “There were a few helicopters and drones flying around.”

The town was sealed off while police searched for Ginter. Garnett owns the farm connected to Hidden Lake Farm, the focus of Tuesday’s search.

“I couldn’t go to the farm in 95-degree heat and check on my cattle,” Garnett said. “And that’s why I was a little disappointed.”

Searches are currently underway in the Finnell Park and Forest Path areas, where police say Ginter is believed to be staying with Riley Pearson, a missing woman from South Carolina, where Ginter is also from.

Georgetown Police and CSP are urging residents of Scott, Bourbon and Harrison counties to lock their homes and vehicles and stay indoors if possible. KSP said Ginter is “potentially armed and dangerous.”

“We took every precaution,” Garnett said. “We locked the doors when we were in the house. We don’t normally do that. Any time I wanted to get in a car or truck, I checked the back seats beforehand and kept them locked, which we don’t normally do very well.”

According to US Marshals, Ginter is wanted for failure to appear in court and unlawful conduct with a child. Authorities say Ginter was convicted of torturing a child by waterboarding and using a taser. He is 6’4″ tall, weighs about 185 pounds, has gray hair and brown eyes.

Garnett told FOX 56 that police are searching the farmland to find it is very dense and thick.

“If you’re well camouflaged, you can go down there quite quietly and someone would have to walk almost over you to see you. So even if there are 50 people there, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of acres of land there.”

Garnett said he would continue farming as usual but would proceed with extra caution until Ginter was in custody.

“I look at buildings before I go in. I look at everything instead of just opening the door and walking in. And I think those are the things you just have to pay a little more attention to – to your surroundings.”

If you see Ginter and Pearson or have any information on their whereabouts, you are asked to call 9-1-1 or the United States Marshal Service. A $5,000 reward is being offered.