Sheriff: Officers stopped attempted inmate escape

ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) — The Madison County Sheriff is thanking correctional officers for stopping an inmate from escaping early Tuesday morning at the county jail.

Sheriff Scott Mellinger said Officer Caleb Collier and other officers heard strange noises coming from a cell.

“It sounded as if someone might be scraping something or actually even someone who might be a little out of breath,” Sheriff Mellinger said.

Inside the cell, officers found a piece of metal. They said an inmate pulled it from the wall and tried to scrape his way out, unsuccessfully.

“At 1:45, on any given morning, when the jail is extremely quiet, activity like that might be easy to miss,” Sheriff Mellinger said. “But they were doing their job and they were doing it very well, so we’re very proud of them.”

Officials put the inmate, 24-year-old Victor Hood, on lockdown. He’s now been transferred to the Department of Corrections on unrelated charges.

“He’s not new to this jail at all,” Sheriff Mellinger said.

Hood has a criminal history that includes multiple arrests for battery.

Charles Malone, who works down the street from the jail, said he recognized Hood’s name right away. He said they became friends in jail, when Malone served time years ago.

“Honestly, I don’t really understand how anybody could really escape from the county. Where would you really go?” Malone said.

Malone said Hood should turn his life around the way he did.

After this incident, officials are pushing for “attempted escape charges” against Hood, according to the sheriff.

Jail Commander Sgt. Jennifer Simmons said Hood provided a statement after the incident. Simmons said Hood told officials that he wasn’t trying to escape, he was trying to make a hole so he could smuggle items into the jail.