2 more escaped inmates back in county jail
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 27, 2002
Two more of six inmates who bolted from their cells at the Warren County Jail at midnight Monday were back in custody this morning, and the jailer injured in the escape has been released from the hospital.
Two escapees remained at large late this morning.
Randy Morrison, 21, 1410 First East St., and Derrick Hyland, 18, 426 Dana Road, were recaptured Tuesday evening in the city by Vicksburg Police and Warren County sheriff’s deputies, Sheriff Martin Pace said this morning.
The first two of six men who escaped from cell block 2 Monday were captured within an hour, one in the jail lobby and one in a cab. All four now face additional, escape-related charges.
“We continued to search throughout the night (for the escapees who remained at large),” Pace said. “We searched a number of houses where we received information the other suspects may have possibly been seen, and we will continue until they are captured.”
Morrison, who had been arrested July 10 and was accused of armed robbery of a convenience store, was recaptured Tuesday while walking near First North and South streets at 5:44 p.m., his face hidden by the hood of a sweatshirt, Pace said.
Hyland, who had been arrested Sept. 23 and was accused of burglary, was recaptured while hiding in a bedroom in a home on Highland Avenue at 4:34 p.m., Pace said.
Jailer Rick Haggard, 29, who was beaten in the escape, was released from River Region Medical Center late Tuesday evening, Pace said.
In his initial comments on the escapes, Pace said the six inmates grabbed and beat Haggard about 11:50 p.m. when he opened a cell-block door to take outgoing mail. His injuries included a skull fracture and a concussion, the sheriff said.
They also took Haggard’s county-issued jail keys and hand-held radio and about $30 from his wallet, Pace said. The keys were recovered inside the jail building, at Cherry and Grove streets, the radio was recovered on Grove Street. The money had not been recovered, Pace said.
The two who remained at large this morning were Reginald Sims, 21, 208 Overlook Drive, who was arrested Oct. 21 after being sought by police for two weeks as the suspect in a double shooting, and Michael Jerome Woods, 34, of Marilyn Drive in Jackson, who was arrested in Edwards July 8 and accused of car theft.
“I want to emphasize that anybody who assists them in any way, whether by giving them money or shelter, can and will be charged with aiding and abetting an escapee,” Pace said.
The two who were recaptured within an hour of the escape faced charges that together carry maximum potential prison sentences of 50 years, 30 for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, 15 for robbery and five for felony escape, District Attorney Gil Martin said.
Jamie Maurice Woods, 18, 237 Smith Road, who was recaptured by police in a taxi about 45 minutes after the escape, and Louis Gaskin, 21, who gave his address in court as 138 Military Drive and was recaptured by detention officers before leaving the jail lobby, appeared Tuesday on those charges before Warren County Justice Court Judge Joe Crevitt.
At Pace’s request, Gaskin and Woods were to be held without bond, pending a hearing in Warren County Court.
Morrison and Hyland were scheduled to make court appearances this afternoon on the same three new charges, Pace said.