Inmate walks away from work site at Saunders Springs

An out-of-state man serving time at the Hardin County jail for fleeing police walked away from a work detail Friday in Radcliff.

RYAN C. JONES

RYAN C. JONES

Ryan Christopher Jones, 20, was one of a few inmates working Friday afternoon at Saunders Springs, Jailer Danny Allen said.

The site supervisor, a volunteer at Saunders Springs, had “visual contact” with Jones until at least 2 p.m., Allen said. At 3:05 p.m., the supervisor contacted the jail about Jones’ absence.

Jones began serving time in April 2012, as a state inmate in Hardin County Detention Center’s work-release program, Allen said. He was convicted in Whitley County of first-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle and first-degree wanton endangerment, the jailer said.

Jones temporarily was transferred to another Kentucky jail to serve a sentence there, but Allen could not recall which county.

He returned to the Hardin County jail just one week before he walked away from the work site, Allen said. Jones was scheduled to be released from custody in May.

The jailer described Jones as a white male with a medium build and sandy-colored hair. He is approximately 5-feet-8 and weighs 200 pounds.

After Jones’ escape Friday, jail staff listened to his phone calls from Thursday night and discovered he made plans with another individual to flee custody, Allen said. Based on that phone conversation, he said investigators believe Jones is headed toward Dayton, Ohio.

The jail reports Jones’ last known address is in LaFollette, Tenn., but in a statement released to media Saturday, Kentucky State Police Post 4 listed Jones as a resident of Dayton, Ohio.

Jones also has ties to Radcliff, according to the release from state police.

KSP, who is investigating the incident, was notified of the escape at 3:38 p.m., according to a release. Post 4 Trooper Josh Cummings is leading the investigation.

Allen said law enforcement officials in Dayton also have been notified.

Anyone with information about Jones’ whereabouts is asked to contact KSP Post 4 in Elizabethtown at (270) 766-5078 or 1-800-222-5555. Callers may remain anonymous.

Sarah Bennett can be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.