Albany police search for escaped Dougherty Co. inmate

DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - A Dougherty County Jail inmate escaped from Phoebe Putney Hospital at around 10:50 a.m. on Saturday.

According to officials, Carlton Gillis, 37, was reportedly an inmate for about three weeks before being admitted to the hospital.

At the time of his escape, he was in the custody of a detention officer. Gillis overpowered the officer and escaped.

After escaping, Gillis then took a green Pontiac on US-19 from someone he knew.

Later on, he was stopped by officers with the Albany Police Department (APD) in East Albany. At the time of the stop, officers did not know that Gillis was an inmate.

He reportedly fought with officers and left in the same car. Police found the car in the Cason Street and E. Campbell Street area, but no sign of Gillis, according to officials.

Gillis is reportedly charged with burglary, criminal damage to property, interference with government property, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and probation violation.

He also has a pending weapons charge in Terrell County, where he was previously convicted of aggravated assault, according to the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office. Officials in Terrell County have been notified.

Law enforcement agencies are actively searching for him.

Stay with WALB for updates.