Police say escaped prisoner in eastern Jefferson County briefly kidnapped 2 victims; still on the loose

According to LMPD spokesman Aaron Ellis, the inmate is 31-year-old Norman K. Wolfe.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The search continued Friday for an inmate who jumped out of the back of a police vehicle in east Louisville Thursday morning and kidnapped two people.

Police say a Trimble County deputy jailer was transporting 31-year-old Norman K. Wolfe in the unmarked SUV when he kicked out the back window, jumped out and ran across I-265.

According to LMPD spokesperson Aaron Ellis, it happened shortly before 9 a.m. Ellis said that's when officers were called to the interchange of Interstate 71 and Interstate 265 after someone reported seeing a man in orange clothing running across all lanes of the Gene Snyder. At the same time, a Trimble County deputy jailer reported that he was transporting an inmate Wolfe when Wolfe kicked out the back window, jumped out and ran across the interstate.

After arriving on the scene, police began a coordinated search for Wolfe. According to court documents, he is currently charged with first-degree burglary, fleeing and evading police and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Court documents show he was also scheduled to appear in Trimble County Circuit Court for a hearing Thursday morning.

After escaping the SUV, police said Wolfe kidnapped two people from the 8500 block of Brownsboro Road, near Goose Creek Road. He then allegedly forced them to drive him to an area near the intersection of River Road and Edith Road near Louisville Champions Park.

The victims were unharmed.

Several Jefferson County Public Schools were briefly placed on heightened security after Wolfe escaped, including Kentucky Country Day School, which sent a message to parents shortly after 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

"LMPD notified us that a prisoner escaped custody on the Gene Snyder and have advised us to move into a Code Green, Soft Lockdown," the message read. "As a reminder, a Soft Lockdown means there is no immediate threat on campus, but as an extra precaution, all students and faculty move and stay indoors until we receive word of the all-clear. Students and faculty are safe and there is no reason to come to campus."

At about 11:45 a.m., the school sent out another message saying police had given them the "all-clear" and that it was safe to resume normal operations.

We wanted to advise of an ongoing investigation in the area of I-71/I-265 in #Louisville. We are working on gathering more information from the agencies involved. Please stay out of the area. We are asking you to not call 911 & @LouMetroES unless its an emergency. #LMPD pic.twitter.com/JXvaJgNgfK

Mechelle Porter has a student that attends Kentucky Country Day and said that the situation made her very uneasy.

"Still nervous that this person hasn't been found, and that they were that close to my child's school," Porter said. "The world we're living in right now, it's just a little crazy and everyone's on edge and uneasy. Just love on your loved ones because you never know, you know it might be the last time to tell that person you love them."

A sign on the door of a store at The Paddock Shoppes in eastern Jefferson County indicates that the store is temporarily closed as police search for Norman K. Wolfe, an inmate who escaped in the area on May 18, 2023. (Photo by: Adi Schanie / WDRB)

Several stores at The Paddock Shops had signs in their windows indicating that they were temporarily closed.

Police also briefly searched the area of Mellwood Avenue, said that the searched turned up nothing.

If you see Wolfe, call 911.

Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.