Residents Near Taylor County Jail Upset About Escapes
By: Morgan Bond
Updated: December 6, 2011
John Casey has lived just down the street from the Taylor County Jail for more than 20 years. He lives with his wife, his niece and her two little girls. Casey says
when the jail was built, officials told residents near the jail that a
system would be put into place to notify them when something like an escape happens. But when Dennis Ingle, Jr. escaped from the jail Monday afternoon, Casey says he was never notified.
"It's kind of scary. You don't know what's going on, or how they are getting out," Casey said, "The only way we find out what's going on is we see them out there looking for them and ask them what's going on."
Ingle escaped from the jail around 3:45 Monday afternoon. He was on an inmate work bus that was headed back to the jail. When it pulled up to the gate, Ingle jumped off the bus and ran north around the jail.
"Things happen very quickly. Procedures are set in place when the call goes out," said David Atkins, a spokesperson for the Taylor County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities recaptured Ingle just under two hours after he escaped. One of APD's canines found Ingle in a wooded area right behind the jail. Ingle was a minimum security inmate, who was serving time for theft.
"Anytime you have an inmates outside the jail, in a work crew, there is a possibility. That's why the minimum security inmates are the only ones that are allowed on the work crews," Atkins said.
It's the second escape in less than two weeks. Inmate Dustin Bates climbed a fence on the night of November 22nd. He stole a truck and led police on a high speed chase before being recaptured.
With the two escapes in mind, residents like Casey say they are ready to protect their family if it happens again.
"[T]hat's why I have gun, because these kids are here. If [authorities] can't take control of them, if they come over here, then I will," Casey said.
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"It's kind of scary. You don't know what's going on, or how they are getting out," Casey said, "The only way we find out what's going on is we see them out there looking for them and ask them what's going on."
Ingle escaped from the jail around 3:45 Monday afternoon. He was on an inmate work bus that was headed back to the jail. When it pulled up to the gate, Ingle jumped off the bus and ran north around the jail.
"Things happen very quickly. Procedures are set in place when the call goes out," said David Atkins, a spokesperson for the Taylor County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities recaptured Ingle just under two hours after he escaped. One of APD's canines found Ingle in a wooded area right behind the jail. Ingle was a minimum security inmate, who was serving time for theft.
"Anytime you have an inmates outside the jail, in a work crew, there is a possibility. That's why the minimum security inmates are the only ones that are allowed on the work crews," Atkins said.
It's the second escape in less than two weeks. Inmate Dustin Bates climbed a fence on the night of November 22nd. He stole a truck and led police on a high speed chase before being recaptured.
With the two escapes in mind, residents like Casey say they are ready to protect their family if it happens again.
"[T]hat's why I have gun, because these kids are here. If [authorities] can't take control of them, if they come over here, then I will," Casey said.
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