LEXINGTON – An inmate that escaped from the Holmes County jail last month was found in Kenner, Louisiana. Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said Bruce Harrell, 42, was spotted in Kenner, several days after his escape, by U.S. Marshall’s, and he was taken into their custody. Harrell was transported to a Louisiana jail until deputies from Holmes County arrived for his extradition.
March said Harrell escaped from the Holmes County jail on March 19 after he allegedly jammed a crushed milk carton in the back door and snuck out after hours. Authorities believe a car was waiting for Harrell and someone helped him get to Louisiana.
Since his return to Holmes County, Harrell has refused to cooperate with authorities and identify who may have assisted in his escape.
March said Harrell’s escape went unnoticed because several jail employees failed to follow the prison’s protocol. March said those employees have either been terminated or suspended while another voluntarily resigned.
“They didn’t go in and count the inmates,” March said. “Our policy is no [inmate] can cover their head up in bed. The [guards] are supposed to go in there and uncover their head and then write the inmate up and they lose some of their privileges, like visitation. But this time, they just saw the knot in the bed and counted Harrell present.”
March wouldn’t name the guards involved but said one guard that was fired worked full time and had been with the jail for about nine months. Another part-time guard was terminated and had been employed there six months.
The two suspended employees were both full time and had been with the jail for more than a year. March said one was a control operator and the other was an acting supervisor.
March said Harrell’s escape was discovered that morning around 3 a.m., when a new inmate was brought in and the guard put him in Harrell’s cell. March was then notified and an investigation into Harrell’s escape was launched.
March said Harrell had been charged with three counts of arson in Durant and had been in the custody of Holmes County for about two months.
“He set a couple of businesses on fire,” March said, “including the city barn on [Highway] 51 and a couple of businesses on [Highway 12]. If convicted, he would have gotten about 30 years.”
Besides arson, Harrell is now facing charges of escape and possession of a cell phone while in prison.
Each charge carries a minimum of five years.
Be the first to comment