A late-night attempt to break into the Fulton County Jail turned into a short-lived caper Monday, after two people allegedly sliced through an outer fence and tried to get onto the property. No inmates escaped, and one suspect was caught with help from the sheriff's K-9 unit while the second person managed to slip away.
The Fulton County Sheriff's Office told WSB-TV that deputies discovered the cut in the perimeter fence and detained one individual at the scene. A search is ongoing for the second suspect. Officials said no inmates got out during the incident, and charges for the person in custody will be released once they are finalized. The station described the report as a developing story.
Security Strains At The Rice Street Complex
The attempted breach comes as Sheriff Pat Labat has recently announced plans to stop accepting most low-level misdemeanor arrestees beginning July 1, citing overcrowding and infrastructure concerns at the Rice Street jail, as reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. That policy shift, along with a 2024 federal review, has put the county's jail security under added scrutiny, according to local reporting.
Deputies are continuing to canvass the areas around the jail and are asking anyone with information about the second suspect to contact investigators. Details on criminal charges will be made public as they are filed, the sheriff's office told WSB-TV. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office also maintains a press page with contact information for media and the public at the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.
