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Fugitive Article

July 19, 2007

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Suspect escapes Tenn. police custody by jumping out window

By Lauren Gregory
Chatanooga Times Free Press

CHATANOOGA, Tenn. — A man under police guard at Erlanger hospital escaped custody Wednesday afternoon by jumping out of a fourth-floor window, officials said.

Billy Joseph Bryant, 29, was arrested Monday night on charges of aggravated assault on police and deceptive practice, a theft-related charge, said Chattanooga Police Department spokesman Sgt. Rick Mincy.

Police took Mr. Bryant to Erlanger rather than to the Hamilton County Jail because officers thought he may have swallowed drugs, Sgt. Mincy said.

About 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Mr. Bryant took advantage of a few minutes of privacy he was given in the shower by prying open a window and leaping to the ground, the sergeant said.

"I guess after he took his shower he decided to jump out the window," Sgt. Mincy said. "I would say that's a pretty bold move."

Erlanger has its own police force, but the Chattanooga Police Department handled the incident, hospital spokeswoman Jan Powell said.

"When we have a prisoner in the hospital such as this, (security) is always up to the (arresting) law enforcement agency," Ms. Powell said.

Patrol officers and detectives with the Chattanooga Police Department searched the area thoroughly, but they did not locate Mr. Bryant, Sgt. Mincy said. Witnesses indicated the suspect left in a red truck, he said.

However, Mr. Bryant was not found with the vehicle when police tracked it down in the East Chattanooga area.

Authorities do not believe Mr. Bryant posed any threat to other patients or is a threat to the public as police continue to search for him, Sgt. Mincy said.

"His main concern is probably getting to a safe place," the sergeant said. "I don't think he's out there to hurt anyone. He's probably just trying to get away from us."

Mr. Bryant is described as white, 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 155 pounds. Authorities released a photograph from a previous arrest but said his brown hair now is shorter than in that photo.

Anyone with information about Mr. Bryant's whereabouts is asked to call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 698-3333.

Copyright 2007 Chattanooga Publishing Company

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