By J.J. Stambaugh
The Knoxville News-Sentinel
HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. — A man wanted on federal escape charges for breaking out of the Hamblen County Jail with six other inmates was arrested Wednesday night, authorities said.
Michael Curtis Long, 22, could receive a five-year federal prison term for the jailbreak in addition to the 141-month sentence he already was facing for robbery and firearms convictions, according to a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Long was arrested about 7:15 p.m. at a Morristown residence by members of the Smoky Mountains Fugitive Task Force, the release states.
“When the officers approached the house, they observed Long sitting near a campfire in the back yard with five other people,” the release states. “The scene was secured, and there was no resistance as Long was arrested and removed from the scene. The nearby area was searched, and none of the other escapees were present with Long.”
He recently had been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for the armed robbery of a BP station in Morristown in 2006.
Two other fugitives — Joshua Lee Adkins and Paul Long — also were nabbed Wednesday, less than 24 hours after slipping away from the overcrowded Hamblen County Jail.
Four prisoners remained on the loose, however, and an extensive search was under way.
Those escapees were identified as Michael J. Banner, Nathan W. Carroll, Brandon S. Collins and Nicholas Kyle Short.
Officials believe that Michael Long may have spearheaded the escape, said Chief Deputy Wayne Mize, of the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office.
“He was the one who had the most to lose by staying because he was looking at federal charges,” Mize said. "(But) we won’t know till we gather them all up and question them, see what they say.”
The other prisoners were incarcerated on less-serious state charges, such as failure to appear in court, violation of probation and drunken driving, he said.
“We know them, know their friends, family and where they hang out, so it’s just a matter of time,” Mize said.
The inmates will face additional charges of misdemeanor escape. Two of the escapees - Collins and Michael Long - also will face charges of assaulting an officer, Mize said.
The escape occurred about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when 69 inmates were jammed into the jail annex, which has 32 beds. Inmates had requested ice for their cooler, Mize said.
“We’re overcrowded,” the chief deputy said. “If they want ice and it helps keep them calm and quiet, we give them ice.”
When jailer Josh Petit opened the cell to deliver ice, inmates grabbed him and pulled him into the cell. “They thumped him pretty good with fists and feet,” Mize said.
Petit suffered multiple bruises but no broken bones, Mize said.
The inmates locked Petit in the cell and fled. A jail trusty alerted other jailers in the main facility of the ruckus, Mize said. “We could have lost 69 inmates, but the rest of them just stayed put,” Mize said. “So it could have been worse.”
Mize said overcrowding has been a constant problem for the department.
“We have a total of 187 beds, but we run in excess of 300 inmates every day,” he said.
Mize said a new jail addition with 68 beds is slated to open Oct. 5, giving the facility a total capacity of 255 beds.
Copyright 2007 Knoxville News-Sentinel