Two Tennessee inmates, Ronnie Sharp, 48, and Joshua Harris, 40, were swiftly recaptured shortly after their escape from the Henry County Jail.
The two fugitives managed to pry open the ceiling of their cell, crawl through a skylight on the roof, and flee the prison grounds on Monday, according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities suspect that Sharp and Harris stole a conspicuous 2006 white Chevy pickup to aid their short-lived escape. Their swift escape led to their immediate placement on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list, with law enforcement labeling them as “armed and dangerous.”
However, their freedom was short-lived as Harris was tracked down just 8 miles from the jail on Monday. A vigilant citizen reported spotting him in the area, facilitating his swift apprehension.
Sharp, on the other hand, evaded capture until the following day when he was found in a neighboring county, approximately 30 miles away.
Union City police successfully captured Sharp “after a brief foot chase” and temporarily detained him in their jail overnight before transporting him back to Henry County on Wednesday morning.
The stolen truck used by the escapees was discovered abandoned in Kentucky, where Sharp had previously resided before being incarcerated in Tennessee.
Sharp currently faces multiple pending charges, including kidnapping, aggravated assault, assault on an officer, evading arrest, theft of property, and burglary.
Records reveal that Sharp had previously been involved in a series of high-speed pursuits, spanning 11 days, while evading an arrest warrant for failure to appear in court.
The incidents involved multiple stolen vehicles and concluded when Sharp allegedly broke into a Tennessee residence occupied by the homeowner and his children. A physical altercation ensued, during which Sharp reportedly bit the homeowner, who then restrained him in a chokehold until authorities arrived.
Prior to their escape, Sharp and Harris had existing criminal histories. Sharp was wanted in Kentucky for various charges, such as possession of meth, automobile theft, reckless driving, and receiving stolen property. Harris, serving time for a sentence violation, also had a history of evading arrest, theft of property, and burglary.
The swift recapture of these two inmates highlights the determined efforts of law enforcement agencies in Tennessee to ensure public safety and bring fugitives to justice. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by correctional facilities in maintaining secure environments and preventing escapes.
