Two "career criminals," according to Franklin County Sheriff A.J. "Tony" Smith, led law enforcement on two separate high-speed chases there just hours apart.
In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Smith detailed the escape of an inmate from the Franklin County Detention Center, and then a 17-year-old that eluded deputies while wearing an ankle monitor.
At 7:30 p.m., inmate Charles Carpenter managed to slip through the jail's fence while the corrections staff was distracted by other inmates. Carpenter ran down the road where he found and stole a truck that had guns and the keys in it.
The Apalachicola Police Department helped county deputies chase Carpenter down Highway 98, Smith said. He eventually hit a dead end as he tried to cut through thick woods but couldn't.
Within an hour of his escape, law enforcement had him back in custody, he said. In the eight years Smith has been the sheriff, he said he's never had an inmate escape, and they will be assessing the facility for security flaws. It wasn't clear whether any of his corrections staff would be disciplined.
"We're going to tighten up some more and make sure that if you're in jail, you stay in jail," Smith said.
Smith said Carpenter has a lengthy criminal history and has an upcoming sentencing hearing for numerous charges including battery, grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of a dwelling and grand theft of a firearm. After Tuesday's incident, he was slapped with additional charges, including escape and possession of a firearm by convicted felon.
As the sheriff's office and the police department wrapped up with Carpenter, a car whizzed by, sparking yet another car chase down the highway.
A 17-year-old was fleeing from pursuing officers as they tried to pull him over for speeding. The chase eventually came to an end in Apalachicola when an APD officer forced him to stop, which damaged the officer's squad car, Smith said.
"He was wearing an ankle monitor, which I guess wasn't being monitored because he'd been out for a while joyriding or doing whatever he was doing," Smith said.
The teen was being monitored by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice because of a battery charge and for stealing cars, Smith said.
It's "totally unacceptable" for his ankle monitor not to be working or monitored, and the sheriff said they would be discussing this with the state.
Breaking & trending news reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.
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