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Floyd Ray Cook: Kentucky Manhunt Continues For Tennessee Police Shooting Suspect

By Tara Dodrill
Published on: 07:26 PST, Oct 26, 2015

A massive manhunt is underway in rural Kentucky to located Floyd Ray Cook. Police began looking for the 62-year-old man with a long criminal record on Monday morning. Cook allegedly shot a Tennessee police officer and then got into a shootout with Kentucky State Troopers before fleeing on foot.

Floyd Ray Cook was last spotted in Cumberland County, Kentucky, along the Tennessee border. The area is largely comprised of steeps hills and densely wooded areas, Fox News reports.

“He’s as dangerous as they come,” said Kentucky State Police Trooper Billy Gregory. “I would say anyone that has any contact with him is in danger.”

Cumberland County schools cancelled classes on Monday due to the Cook manhunt. County school district Superintendent Kirk Biggerstaff said the search for Floyd Cook spanned the rural bus route. The district serves about 1,000 students.

“We’re not accustomed to having manhunts in our small, rural town,” Superintendent Biggerstaff added. “So we definitely are a little bit unsettled, and we want to make sure that we’re keeping students as safe as possible.”

Cook allegedly shot and injured Algood, Tennessee, police officer Ahscari Valencia during a traffic stop Saturday. authorities said. After Officer Valencia asked Cook to show him his hands, the Kentucky manhunt target reportedly opened fire, said Putnam County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Beth Nelson.

The bulletproof vest Ashcari Valencia was wearing is credited with saving his life. The Tennessee law enforcement officer had been a member of the Tennessee police force for almost two years. The extent of the officer’s injuries has not yet been shared publicly. The injured officer is reportedly now recovering at home.

On Saturday, Kentucky State Troopers attempted to apprehend Cook in the Burkesville area. The police shooting suspect reportedly attempted to flee but wrecked his vehicle during the chase. Floyd Cook opened fire on Trooper Jeremy Baker, however, the officer was not wounded during the incident.

After running away on foot, the Tennessee police shooting suspect was spotted breaking into a home in a rural area of Cumberland County on Sunday. The couple living inside the home managed to get away and call 911. When the police arrived, Cook was already gone, WSMV reports.

According to police reports, Cook is described as being a six-foot, 160-pound white male with blue eyes, gray facial hair, and gray, balding hair. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was convicted of a series of crimes in Kentucky, including charges on rape, assault, rioting, robbery, and burglary.

In 1970, Floyd Ray Cook was convicted of raping a 19-year-old in Marion County and was required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Earlier this year, the police shooting suspect was indicted on first-degree felony trafficking of methamphetamine and tampering with physical evidence charges. Cook was scheduled for arraignment on those charges in August but did not show up for the hearing. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Floyd Ray Cook listed his home address at a residence in Lebanon, Kentucky, on his sex offender registration form. During a routine check on the whereabouts of registered sex offenders several months ago, police discovered that Cook was no longer living at the noted address. Another warrant was issued for his arrest due to the registration violation.

Marion County deputies found out that Cook was living in the small town of Raywick, Kentucky, and staked out the address but were not able to catch the elusive criminal.

[Image via Shutterstock.com]

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