An inmate who slipped out of the Independence County District Court building Wednesday quickly found himself back behind bars.
When he left the court building Wednesday afternoon, Christopher Michael Hill (pictured), 50, was still in handcuffs and his jail uniform. Stephens said Hill was apprehended a few hours later.
The sheriff thanked many authorities who helped in the search for Hill, including the Independence County Office of Emergency Management, Independence County Judge Kevin Jeffery, the Arkansas State Police, the Batesville Police Department, the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force, and tracking dog teams from Calico Rock and the Grimes Prison Unit.
Hill was being held on five counts of failure to appear, fleeing, and resisting arrest — all misdemeanor charges.
He now faces one felony count of third-degree escape and is back in the Independence County Jail. On Thursday, his bond was set at $40,000.
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EARLIER
UPDATE, June 26, 2024, 7:35 p.m.: An inmate who left the Independence County District Court building Wednesday afternoon is now back in custody, according to Sheriff Shawn Stephens. (See the Facebook update from the Independence County Sheriff’s Department below.)
EARLIER: According to a news release from the Independence County Sheriff’s Department, inmate Christopher Michael Hill (pictured), 50, left the court and headed southeast from the building at 549 W. Main St. in Batesville.
Hill was dressed in his green jail uniform and was in handcuffs. He was being held on five counts of failure to appear, fleeing, and resisting arrest — all misdemeanor charges.
If you see Hill, please contact Independence County Dispatch at (870) 698-2436 or the Independence County Sheriff’s Department at (870) 793-8838.
Image: Independence County Sheriff’s Department
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