Published: May 06, 2008 12:13 pm            

Escapees’ freedom is shortlived

Inmates stage fight to overpower guard

WHITLEY CITY — Law enforcement got a jump on the work week Monday morning as they searched for two men who had escaped from McCreary County Jail.

Darren J. Renfro, 24, and Virgil L. Allen, 23, both of Parkers Lake, are back in jail and facing a multitude of new charges.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:38 a.m. Monday morning as one of the two deputy jailers on duty went to investigate what appeared to be a fight in one of the cells.

According to Jailer Tony Ball, Dep. Earl Sumner was asked by one of the inmates to be moved from the cell. When he opened the door to comply, the inmates used a mattress to block the door. Renfro and Allen then overpowered Sumner, knocking him out as well as assaulting two state inmates as they escaped.

The men used a fire extinguisher to knock out the front window and ran for the woods across the railroad tracks.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Tony Dingess, Tpr. Shaler Jones and members of the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office proceeded to the railroad tracks where they heard the subjects running in the woods but were unable to locate them.

A short time later McCreary County 911 received a prowler complaint at a residence on Dripping Springs Road. Trps. Dingess, Jones, Officer Tim Grooms with the US Forest Service, Sheriff Gus Skinner and deputies Jerry Meadows, David Sampson, Bob West and Lowell Dolen proceeded to the residence where they located and arrested, without incident, Renfro.

Allen was located hiding in a crawl space under the residence and after a brief altercation was arrested. Both subjects were lodged in the McCreary County Detention Center and charges of Escape 1st and Assault are pending.

The escapees were booked back at the jail at approximately 5:03 a.m. Monday morning.

Renfro had been previously charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, second-degree Fleeing and Evading Police, second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault and nonpayment of fines.

Allen had been previously jailed for DUI, third offense, and nonpayment of fines.

Detective Billy Correll is in charge the investigation and was assisted by officers from the Kentucky State Police, the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office and the US Forest Service.

        

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