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Sheriff blames escape on overcrowding, budget cuts

PEASRSON, GA  - (WALB) - Three inmates broke out of the Atkinson County jail overnight, but were caught soon after.

Sheriff David Moore blames the escape on the fact that his office is forced to keep track of too many inmates for the jail, and broken video cameras that can't be replaced.

Here is what happened, in the sheriff's own words:

At approximately midnight Pearson Police Officer Rivers found an inmate jumpsuit on Allen Ave a block from the Atkinson County Jail. Jailer Bryan performed a head count and found three Hispanics missing.

The inmates could only have been missing for minutes because the jailer had performed rounds less than 20 minutes prior.

Eleazar Gomez was the inmate worker out of his cell doing laundry because of a lice outbreak. We had inmates on cots and overcrowding had caused doors to be open that other wise would not have been open.

Our surveillance cameras were broken and the replacement system had to be removed from the proposed budget because of revenue shortfalls for next year. They slipped through the laundry door into the yard and onto the roof.

As Sheriff of this quiet county this incident makes me angry that fiscal constraints have caused these men to be able to escape and the public to be less safe. I am also a bit embarrassed.

Atkinson SO and Pearson PD worked diligently to return these men to custody.

Eleazar Gomez Charges:
2 counts of Burglary
1 criminal damage to property
1 conspiracy to commit a crime
probation violation

Gaspar Tolentino  Charges:
Failure to appear bench warrant
Giving false information to police
Escape (from police during interview)
simple battery
Immigration hold

Jose Luis Torres  Charges:
Use of fighting words
failure to appear contempt of court