Sheriff’s Department Searching For Jail Escapee

Huntsville, TN (2011-07-15) The Scott County Sheriff’s Department is still searching for an escapee that fled from the Scott County Jail Thursday afternoon. While Deputies continue to search near the facility, authorities believe the suspect has left the area.

Patrick L. Chitwood, 31, of Lafollette escaped from the recreation yard at the Scott County Jail around 4:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Chitwood, who has being held at the facility on drug-related charges, reportedly scaled the fence at the facility, ultimately crawling through razor wire to make his escape.

“He’s a highly motivated individual,” commented Scott County Sheriff Mike Cross. According to authorities, Chitwood likely sustained serious lacerations to both his hands and feet when he crawled through the razor wire. Despite his apparent injuries (as authorities found blood at both the facility and in the woods), Chitwood alluded capture. Deputies from the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, aided by tracking dogs from Morgan County Correctional Complex (formerly Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary) scoured the landscape between the jail complex and New River for hours Thursday night. Authorities reportedly contained Chitwood in a perimeter from the jail to the river and from Old Jamestown Road to Scott County. Bloodhounds tracked Chitwood through the thick underbrush, but reportedly lost his trail near a local roadway.

` “He may have gotten a ride,” commented Cross. Having lost the scent near the road, authorities speculate that a passing motorist may have picked Chitwood up. While authorities encourage residents in the area to be vigilant, officials believe that Chitwood has likely left the area and may be trying to make his way back to Campbell County.

Chitwood has brown hair and is described as clean cut. He was last seen wearing a orange prison-style pants and no shirt.

Anyone with information regarding either suspect is asked to call the Scott County Sheriff’s Department at (423) 663.2245.