EBPD: Suspect arrested after months on the run – The Brewton Standard

After months on the run, East Brewton police are finally able to make an arrest in a rape and sexual abuse case.

Arthur Andrew Simmons, 28, was taken into custody Monday morning with assistance from the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force, according to East Brewton Police Chief Kenny Brazile.

Simmons was previously accused of having sex with a 15-year-old in 2023, Brazile said.

“Arrest warrants were issued at that time,” Brazile said. “But since then he had fled from us.”

Brazile said Simmons recently made certain “threats” that justified the GCRTC’s support.

“A few weeks ago, it came to light that he (Simmons) had been sending cryptic messages to someone,” Brazile said. “In those messages, he mentioned something about a shootout with police and that he would 'go down in a fireworks display of glory' if he was spoken to.”

Due to the circumstances, contact was made with the GCRTC, who assisted in locating and taking Simmons into custody from a family residence on Saw Mill Road in the Flomaton neighborhood.

Simmons was charged with second-degree rape and second-degree sexual abuse in connection with the 2023 allegations against him.

As of Monday afternoon, Simmons was still being held at the Escambia County Detention Center without bail set in the case.