An inmate escaped from the Henderson County Detention Center Friday night.
According to Jailer Bruce Todd, the inmate Tylee Thompson, 33, was accompanied by a sergeant and another inmate to take out the trash outside the jail at about 9:15 p.m.
After the inmates emptied their tubs into the Dumpster, they were pushing the wheeled tubs back to the jail when Thompson pushed his into the sergeant, knocking her down, Todd said.
Then Thompson ran away into the direction of the cemetery across the street from the jail on Borax Drive, Todd said.
A post from Henderson County government said that Thompson had not been apprehended as of Saturday afternoon.
Thompson is described as a black male, 5’10”, dreadlocks, short beard, wearing a khaki-colored jail uniform with sandals, according to information posted on the Henderson Police Department’s Facebook page. Thompson walks with a limp, said HPD.
HPD, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police and Henderson County EMA are working together to find Thompson, said HPD.
Thompson’s charges include criminal possession of a forged instrument (identity), receiving stolen property (firearms), possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), possession of marijuana and fugitive from another state (Ohio), according to the HCDC’s website.
Information from HPD said Thompson also had a felony assault charge.
According to Todd, Thompson was classified in the jail as a trustee in the state’s Substance Abuse Program. SAP provides drug counseling for some inmates who have been arrested on felony drug and/or alcohol charges, a Kentucky Department of Corrections website said.
Thompson, as a trustee, had worked his up and gained trust among the jail staff, allowing him more responsibilities within the jail, Todd said.
“He’s supposed to be trusted to perform these duties,” Todd said.
An initial investigation into his phone calls late Friday night revealed that Thompson had something planned, Todd said, adding that a remark on one recording was that Thompson was “trying to get lucky today.”
Todd said law enforcement had K-9 units searching and a drone was launched after the escape.
The post on HPD’s Facebook page urged “the public to shelter in place and be vigilant for any subject walking in the area. If a subject is seen with a similar description, do not approach, contact 911 immediately.”
