UPDATED: Burke County Escaped Inmate Captured In North Carolina

***11:00 a.m. July 14***

According to Sgt. Dan Lowe, the escaped inmate, Jerry Lee Lones, has been arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT).

He was arrested without incident at the Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte.

Once he has his extradition hearing before a judge, and depending on if he waves extradition, or not, he could be back in Burke County within the next several days.

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Burke County, GA—It’s been 9 days since convicted felon Jerry Jones has been seen, or heard from, and investigators say, how he managed to escape, is something that’s never happened before.

Sgt. Dan Lowe, Burke County Sheriff’s Office: “We’ve had numerous trustees make this same route, every morning, without an incident.“

But, last Tuesday, it was different when convicted felon, 44-year-old Jerry Jones, decided not to do the early morning work duties he’d been granted, several months ago at the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, and instead walked off.

Burke County’s Sgt. Dan Lowe took us through Jones’ daily routine.

Sgt. Lowe tells us, trustees earn their right to have freedom, like Jones did, and that this is the first time a trustee has ever walked away. But, those who hang out across the street, at Waynesboro’s Recreation Department, say they were in shock when they heard.

Alquita Scruggs, Waynesboro, GA: “It’s scary because I’ve got my small children. Who knows where he is? He could be up the street from my house, for all I know.“

So, how does a convicted felon earn the trust to become a trustee?

Sgt. Dan Lowe: “The ones who make that decision have a gut feeling of who they’re going to have trouble with, and who they’re not.“

Scruggs: “It’s like you can’t really put your trust in anybody. Honestly, especially when you know they have a history of criminal activity. It’s like…do they really deserve a chance to be giving them that much freedom?“

Jones became a trustee in April. He’d been in jail for about a year. Charges on him ranging from obstruction of an officer, to DUI. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Jerry Jones, call you local sheriff’s office.