Alachua County Jail escape prevented by property custodian

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Tyrone McClyde Thompkins, Jr., 41, was charged with escape this morning after allegedly trying to collect his belongings in preparation for walking out of the Alachua County Jail.

According to the report, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call from the jail shortly after midnight about an escape attempt. The deputy’s investigation found that Thompkins, who is in the jail following a February 23 arrest, has extensive knowledge of the jail’s procedures after being released 26 times.

Thompkins had been assigned Trustee duties at the jail; a Trustee is an inmate who has more freedom of movement because of the responsibilities that accompany the assignment. At about 11:37 p.m. last night, Thompkins was given a hall pass that lets him move freely within the jail, but he was not supposed to leave his assigned area without instruction from a Detention Officer. However, Thompkins allegedly left his assigned area and walked over to the property custodian’s area in the Booking Out section of the building.

The interaction between Thompkins and the property custodian was captured on surveillance video: On the video, Thompkins is reportedly seen knocking on the closed window and asking for his property, including his shoes and phone. The custodian asked Thompkins whether he was being released, and Thompkins allegedly replied, “Yeah.” The custodian asked for his release paperwork, and Thompkins allegedly replied, “Nah, they didn’t give me one.” The custodian asked for the release paperwork again, and Thompkins allegedly showed him the hall pass. The custodian went to check the computer for release paperwork, didn’t find any, and asked Thompkins again if he was being released that day. Thompkins allegedly said, “I think so, that’s what they just said, they told me to come to property and get my clothes.” The property custodian then left the area to seek assistance, and Thompkins also reportedly left the area.

The deputy reported that he believed Thompkins would have tried to leave the jail if he had received his clothes and property and that he lied about being released “in an attempt to use trickery to aid his escape.”

Thompkins was being held on $25,000 bail for a previous charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (he also has two pending misdemeanor charges for petit theft and trespass); $25,000 was added for the charge of escape.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.