Anthony Deshaune Edwards

A Lawrence man accused of leading police on a chase Monday afternoon that resulted in an hourlong manhunt involving dozens of heavily armed officers will not face a kidnapping charge.

Anthony Deshaune Edwards, 22, was arrested Monday afternoon and booked into the Douglas County Jail. He faces one felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and misdemeanor charges of interference with law enforcement and criminal restraint.

Anthony Deshaune Edwards

Edwards led police on a brief car and foot chase after fleeing a traffic stop near the intersection of 31st Street and Haskell Avenue. The traffic stop began because an officer recognized Edwards, who had warrants out for his arrest, and noted a female in his car who appeared to be yelling for help, said Lawrence Police Sgt. Amy Rhoads.

Edwards’ warrants were related to probation violations. His criminal history in Douglas County includes felony convictions for forgery and unlawful voluntary sexual relations with a child over the age of 14 but under the age of 16.

Once he fled the traffic stop, Edwards abandoned his car — and the female inside — on the Haskell Indian Nations University campus and ran west on foot. Officers reached the female, who was not injured.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Douglas County District Court, Edwards is accused of unlawfully restraining the female “so as to interfere substantially with her liberty.”

Edwards then ran to his home at 609 W. 25th St., where he remained as dozens of officers from a number of area law enforcement agencies set up a perimeter around the block searching for him.

Many of the officers were armed with rifles and at least one police dog was brought to the scene.

Officers armed with rifles and aided by police dogs arrested 22-year-old Anthony Deshaune Edwards after an hourlong search Monday afternoon in the area of West 25th and Louisiana streets.

After 4 p.m. officers arrested Edwards, Rhoads said. Nobody was injured in the process.

Edwards is currently being held in the Douglas County Jail in lieu of a $7,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 6, when a date will be set for a preliminary hearing.

If he is convicted of the felony fleeing charge, Edwards may face up to 17 months in prison.

I report on crime and courts for the Journal-World. I can be reached by email at cswanson@ljworld.com, by phone at (785) 832-7284 or on Twitter @Conrad_Swanson.