Inmate escapes FC jail

Authorities are searching for Robert Lee Brown, who escaped from the Franklin County Jail Sept. 1.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Brown was in jail for a probation violation for a previous burglary charge.

Sheriff Shannon Oliver said Brown was outside in the exercise area behind the jail when bad timing gave him the chance he needed to escape. A fight had broken out inside the jail, and the officer outside ran inside to help. During the officer’s brief period inside, Brown managed to escape through the fence surrounding the area.

“At first we thought he climbed over the fence, but now we think he managed to go through a section of it,” Oliver said.

Oliver said the FCSO is taking measures to ensure no one else can escape through the fence in the same way.

After Brown escaped through the fence, he managed to avoid being caught by officers long enough to find an escape vehicle. He allegedly stole a water department truck that was later found in Waynesboro, Tenn.

Brown, however, was not located along with the truck.

Officials have been following different leads but haven’t located Brown as of yet.

Brown is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the FCSO.