Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department officials are asking forthe public’s help in the search for a man accused of kidnapping hisgirlfriend and assaulting her, then fleeing from authoritiesthrough the woods around Oma two weeks ago.

Search teams combed the woods in the northern part of LincolnCounty on the night of Sept. 30 after Ricky Morris, 31, of 220Jerrytown Road, Monticello, allegedly kidnapped and assaulted hisex-girlfriend.

Officials said they are seeking Morris on charges of felonymalicious mischief, aggravated assault/domestic violence,kidnapping and armed carjacking.

“He got after her in his car, and somehow he got her to stop,and he ran into her,” Lawrence County Undersheriff Willie Wallacesaid. “He busted her window out and got in her vehicle and went upon Monticello Road.”

Wallace said Morris and the woman left the vehicle after theygot the car stuck under the Bahalia Creek bridge, and the searchbegan for the couple. The sheriff’s office had received severalcalls that Morris was chasing the woman down Highway 27, so theywere already aware that an incident was brewing.

“We looked for them all day, most of the day,” Wallace said. “Wefound the car up under the bridge, stuck, and that’s when we wentinto the woods looking for her.”

Wallace said the ex-girlfriend had gotten a ride back to thebridge to try to find her car, but the authorities had alreadytowed it from the scene. When she couldn’t find it, she flaggeddown a highway patrolman.

“That’s how we got up with her,” Wallace said.

Lawrence County Investigator Ray Smith said the woman left thescene seeking medical attention.

Officials believed Morris might have gone to Simpson County,where he has family. Smith said he could also be in any of thesurrounding counties, particularly Lawrence or Copiah counties.

Morris is 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and weighs around 227 pounds.He has black hair and brown eyes. Smith said there is up to a$1,000 reward through Crimestoppers for anyone with informationleading up to Morris’ whereabouts and arrest.

Officials said if anyone has information regarding the case,they need to call the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department at601-587-2961 or Crimestoppers at 601-355-TIPS.