Full Notification

(Etowah County, Alabama) An Etowah County inmate who walked away from a work detail Wednesday afternoon has been captured, according to Sheriff Todd Entrekin.

Robert Wesley James, 41, of Attalla, was taken into custody at approximately 11:00 p.m. Wednesday night after a brief vehicle pursuit on I-759 into Attalla on Cleveland Avenue.

A call was made to the Sheriff’s Office when off duty detention deputy Tyler Daniel saw James leave the Jet-Pep on Rainbow Drive, heading north on Highway 411.

Deputy Tara Bates located the white Ford pick-up truck on Rainbow Drive and followed it onto I-759 where she initiated a traffic stop after additional law enforcement officers arrived. James refused to stop, which led to the vehicle chase and ended when he wrecked the vehicle behind the Jet-Pep on Cleveland Avenue, Attalla.

Sheriff’s deputies, Gadsden police, Attalla police and deputies assigned to the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force assisted in James’ capture.

He left the Etowah County judicial building at approximately 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. He drove away in a County maintenance department truck.

James was working under the supervision of the County maintenance department when he escaped.

James was previously detained on property crimes, burglary, theft and a misdemeanor drug crime. He now faces additional charges including first degree escape, first degree theft of property, second degree theft of property, third degree theft of property, attempting to elude and resisting arrest. Bond has not been set at this time.
--END--