SALLISAW, Oklahoma — UPDATE: According to Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane, James Paul Cripps was captured by Fort Smith Police around 9 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 14).
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office has confirmed an inmate, James Paul Cripps, escaped from the Sequoyah County Detention Center in Sallisaw Monday (Jan. 11) night around 10:30 p.m.
Investigators said he was in the booking area of the jail where he was allowed to make a phone call.
Staff was dealing with other inmates at the time, and Cripps stole a key to open a door and escaped.
Cripps was being held on charges of First-degree Burglary, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Domestic Violence and Destruction of Property and is considered potentially violent.
He was last seen wearing a red and orange hoodie and blue jeans.
If you have any information on Cripps, please call the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office (918) 775-9155.