Suspect sought for Adair County assault

(Westville-AP) -- Police are searching for an Oklahoma man who fled with a rifle and scope from the scene of a car crash where a badly-beaten Arkansas man was found in the trunk <br><br>Tim McCollum with

Tuesday, January 20th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Westville-AP) -- Police are searching for an Oklahoma man who fled with a rifle and scope from the scene of a car crash where a badly-beaten Arkansas man was found in the trunk

Tim McCollum with the Adair County sheriff's office says Matthew Crittenden is armed and dangerous.

Crittenden was last seen fleeing the car wreck on foot, clutching the rifle.

A Westville police officer attempted to pull over the car Crittenden was riding in when it sped up and three miles later crashed into trees. The trunk popped open and Mike Summers of Summers, Arkansas, was found inside.

Summers and 35-year-old Corey Jones of Westville were beaten at a Baron, residence.

Summers was in good condition and Jones was in the intensive care unit of the Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital.

Another suspect, Richard ``Rocky'' Benoit, also fled the car, but soon hobbled out of nearby woods.

He is in the Adair County jail on unrelated warrants.