By C1 Staff
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Two inmates who were waiting to be booked into the Jefferson County Jail on aggravated robbery charges decided to leave the facility instead.
Surveillance footage shows Corderro Foster and Justin Cartwright making a break for it as another inmate was escorted into their holding area, according to Arkansas Matters.
They knocked down the officer escorting the inmate, and sprinted into the street.
Maj. Lafayette Woods analyzed the video, noting that one of the suspects was handcuffed to the holding bench, but was able to slip out of the cuffs. The other inmate was also cuffed, but allowed to use the toilet – when he emerged from the bathroom, he was no longer cuffed.
An internal investigation is ongoing.
Jail policy requires inmates to be secured in the processing area.
“The policy just needs to be followed,” Woods said. “Officers know that, but at the same time the jailers are supposed to make sure that happens. An internal investigation is underway now.”
The two escapees were recaptured within an hour of their escape. The pair will now likely face battery charges for injuring the officer in their escape.
So far no jailers or Sheriff’s Office employees have been placed on administrative leave for the incident.