An inmate has escaped Walker County Jail, and Jasper police say officers are helping search for him, warning residents they may see a heavier law enforcement presence around town while the hunt continues. The department is asking anyone who spots the man not to approach him and to instead call 911 with tips or reports of suspicious activity.
The escape was confirmed Friday by Jasper Police, according to WBRC, which reported that officers are assisting other agencies in the effort to find him. Separately, ABC 33/40 identified the escaped inmate as Thomas Banquo Bell, reporting that he fled the Walker County Sheriff's Office jail and that law enforcement agencies are now conducting a search for him in the Jasper area.
Residents Told to Keep Their Distance and Call 911
Jasper Police said residents may notice an increased law enforcement presence in the area as officers work to find the escaped inmate. The department's message to the public was direct: avoid approaching anyone you believe may be involved, and if you observe suspicious activity or have information that could help investigators, contact 911 immediately.
That advisory lines up with what people on the ground were already noticing. Witnesses in the area told the station's reporters they saw a helicopter flying overhead along with police cars scattered south of the sheriff's office, a sign of just how quickly the search mobilized once word of the escape got out.
A Jail With a Troubled Recent History
Friday's escape adds another chapter to a Walker County Jail that has drawn scrutiny for years. A federal judge ordered the sheriff to overhaul the jail back in 1995 following a class action lawsuit over unsafe conditions, according to AL.com.
More recent legal troubles followed. The county and sheriff settled a lawsuit brought by Terry Benton in 2020, though the terms were never made public in court records, per the same outlet. Two years later, Walker County settled another case tied to the death of Jaime Martin, again without disclosing details in court filings. The outlet also reported that after Sheriff Nick Smith took office in 2019, he began sending inmates with medical needs outside the jail for treatment, a shift that nearly doubled the county's medical expenses.
It remains unclear exactly when or how Bell got out of custody, and neither the timeline of the escape nor the current status of the search has been independently confirmed beyond what Jasper Police and the search itself have shown so far. For now, authorities are leaning on the public to stay alert, keep away from anyone they suspect may be involved, and report anything unusual straight to 911.
