A local jail inmate remains at large after escaping from custody while at the Habersham Medical Center in Demorest.
45-year old Jody Smallwood fled from the hospital late Tuesday, according to Habersham County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Matthew Wurtz. He says Smallwood was injured in a fall at the jail. He was being treated for “minor injuries to his knee, ankle and hand” when he escaped from the hospital after his ankle chains and a handcuff were removed.
“We are currently still attempting to locate Smallwood at this time.”
Smallwood is described as a white male, 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a jail uniform with waist chains and one hand in cuffs.
READ Hospital security guard alerted authorities to inmate’s escape
Records show Smallwood is from Maynard, Tennessee. He was arrested on December 26, 2016, on numerous charges including 2nd degree burglary, possession of methamphetamine, two counts of obstructing a law enforcement officer, giving false information to law enforcement, and driving on a suspended or revoked license. He was being held in the Habersham County jail on $9,950 bond.
“We are currently still attempting to locate Smallwood at this time,” says Wurtz. “He will be charged with Escape when captured and possibly other charges.”
It appears this is not the first time Smallwood has escaped from custody. “It is our understanding that Smallwood had been charged with escape in Tennessee,” says Wurtz, “but we are unable to confirm that at this time.”
A report by the Smoky Mountain News shows an inmate matching Smallwood’s name and other vital information escaped from a holding room at the Swain County Courthouse in North Carolina on Jan. 5, 2009. Now Habersham is working to confirm if it’s the same man who escaped from Habersham Medical Center.
Several law enforcement agencies assisted the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office in Tuesday night’s search including the Demorest Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and Lee Arrendale State Prison K9 Unit.
Authorities ask anyone who sees or has information about Smallwood’s whereabouts to please call 911.
Updated 1/4/2017@1:145 p.m.
