Previous Escapes from the LCDC? You Betcha!

 

We weren't sure whether to laugh or groan when a reader stated she could recall no previous escapes from the Lauderdale County Detention Center. Here's a few over the last two decades.

In February 2003, William Shane Nichols, 30, made a run from a deputy while attending his father's visitation at a local funeral home. He was apprehended less than 24 hours later.

September 2003, Travis Montrell Smith, 17, ran through an open detention center door as another inmate was being released. He was arrested later that same day after getting into a fight in West Florence.

December 2004, Keith Dewayne Jones, 21, was placed in a holding cell adjacent to municipal court awaiting his case to be called. As the door was opened for another prisoner, he ran out and escaped through the courtroom, injuring officer Mickey Hines who attempted to stop him. After only a few minutes, authorities spotted Jones at the corner of Seminary and Dr. Hicks, wearing only his underwear. He was promptly taken into custody.

January 2006, Lamont Nance, 26, escaped during a head count after a jailer(s) left several doors unlocked. He was arrested two months later in Sheffield.

February 2006, Davis Lynn Hamm, 25, and Jerry Randall Myrick, 29, both jail trusties, escaped while unloading a truck of supplies just outside the booking room of the jail. Both men left notes saying they hoped there would be no hard feelings. They were both apprehended later that day.

October 2007, three inmates escaped from the unlocked holding cell at municipal court. On the run were Demetrius Thompson, found later that day at a Florence school, Adam Dale Johnson who was captured the next day, and James Powell captured at a later date.

August 2009, Rodney Rodell Davis, 42. walked away from a work detail outside the detention center and managed to commit three robberies before being captured near the library two days later.

October 2009, Jory Scott Wood, 27, walked away from the detention center. He was captured in Lawrenceburg six months later.

September 2012, four inmates escaped the detention center via an air conditioner duct. Gone were Ricky Dewane Lawson, 28, Wesley Lee Gibson, 26, Damien Lee Nix, 23, and Robert Lee Brown, 23. Three were arrested the next day, with the fourth captured some time later in Evergreen, Alabama.

April 2013, Terry Wayne Myers, 43, escaped through the air conditioning system. He was apprehended some days later in Laurel County, Kentucky.

June 2013, Jerry Don Crowden, 41 year-old perennial Shoals Bad Boy, climbed over a fence at the detention Center  Crowden was later apprehended and is currently serving a 20 year sentence at Limestone Correctional Center. This was his second escape. He will not be released until 2033.

This ends Sheriff Ronnie Willis' tenure. We'll look at escapes from the LCDC under Rick Singleton in a few days.

Want to know more about Jerry Don Crowden, perhaps Florence's most infamous felon: 

Jerry Don Crowden