Alleged kidnapper and his victim arrested after car chase

Thursday, June 16, detectives with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division attempted to stop a black GMC truck after positively identifying one of the occupants as 28-year-old Kalynn Hallmark, of Nederland, “a known felon with an outstanding felony warrant,” JCSO reports.

Instead of pulling over when seeing the marked law enforcement vehicle’s flashing lights, JSCO further alleges, driver Eric Sunderland, 34, of Nederland, refused to stop, fleeing Cardinal Drive in Beaumont to Highway 73 in rural Jefferson County.

Both Hallmark and Sunderland were arrested once investigators caught the absconding motorist and his passenger.

“During the pursuit, detectives observed Hallmark screaming, crying and pleading to get out of the vehicle, as well as Sunderland making his hand in the shape of a pistol and motioning as if he were shooting at the detectives,” JCSO reports. “During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Hallmark was being held against her will.”

Detectives also observed objects being thrown from the vehicle, which were recovered by deputies and detectives from the assisting Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and Warrant Division.

“It was later determine that the objects that were thrown out of the suspect vehicle were travel size pouches that contained suspected methamphetamine, suspected marijuana, pharmaceutical pills and other drug paraphernalia,” according to JCSO.

Sunderland was charged with evading in a motor vehicle, aggravated kidnapping and possession of a controlled substance. Hallmark was charged with possession of a controlled substance and also arrested for a felony warrant for possession of a controlled substance.