Jail goes on lock down after attempted jail-break, multiple agencies respond

Ceiling tile in cell where inmate climbed into the ceiling. Submitted photo

Nevada Daily Mail

The Vernon County Jail was on lock-down Thursday night after an inmate attempted to break out. Sheriff's Office officials are saying jail staff found a panel that had been broken out of the ceiling during a cell check in one of the jails pods, and at that time an inmate was missing.

Officials say Sheriff Mosher was notified at his home just after 10 p.m., Thursday evening that the jail had went into lock-down and jail-break procedures had been initiated. Road Deputies, Nevada Police, and members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the jail and set up a perimeter around the building. "By the time I had been notified the jail was already surrounded and a guard had been placed on the roof of the jail" said Mosher.

According to Lt. Eric Terry, the jails administrator, an inmate was able to break through the metal ceiling tiles in his cell and then attempted to access a heating and air vent above the ceiling. "The jail was designed with multiple levels of security, so it would have been hard for him to get out even through the air vent, but he was able to break through the welding on the ceiling tile so you can't rely on that alone" said Terry.

Sheriff Mosher said the jail staff did exceptionally well with their response from the jail and how fast they were able to locate the inmate and follow protocol.

"The inmate was located in the ceiling by a detention officer and was detained at that time" said Mosher. The Sheriff said charges will be filed on the inmate, but could not release his name at this time. "More information will be released when the investigation is complete, and a new warrant is issued."

The Sheriff said that portion of the jail has been locked down until jail construction experts can evaluate and repair the damage to the jail. "They shouldn't have been able to break through those tiles, but anything is possible, and that's why we also rely on the jail staff help keep our jail secure," Mosher said.