Tennessee jail escapees suspected in holdup attempt
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Authorities say two Tennessee inmates who escaped Friday are responsible for an attempted armed robbery at a convenience store early Friday.
The attempted holdup was reported just before 5 a.m. at an EZ Stop, according to the Sevierville Police Department.
"The two white male suspects in this incident are believed to be two jail escapees," according to the department's Twitter feed. "Neither captured. As precaution, extra officers present at schools. Suspects should be considered armed and dangerous."
The robbery attempt followed the overnight escape of four inmates from the Jefferson County Work House in Dandridge, Tenn.
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies were treating inmate Adam Quinn Lethco, 24, for a hand injury at the Jefferson County Work House, according to a news release from Sheriff G.W. Bud McCoig. As the deputies were exiting the cell, four inmates assaulted the deputies, took the keys to the deputy's vehicle and escaped around 12:15 a.m., according to the release.
The vehicle the inmates stole — a black 1982 Chevrolet — was spotted by a volunteer firefighter on Highway 411, and was later found abandoned in Sevierville, the release said. Jimmy Moore, 22, was taken into custody, the release stated.
Around 3:45 a.m., deputies from Sevier and Jefferson counties took another inmate, Richard Lorenz, 26, into custody, according to the release.
Moore and Lorenz were taken to the Jefferson County Jail and charged with aggravated assault on an officer and escape, the release states.
Inmates Matthew Robert Porter, 27, and Lethco remain at large.
According to Sevierville police, the stolen deputy's vehicle "may have had a gun inside."
Porter, who is 5'11" and 186 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair, is serving one year of a six-year sentence for reckless endangerment and evading arrest, according to the release.
Lethco, who is 6' and weights 150 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes, is serving an eight-year sentence for aggravated burglary, theft and vehicle theft, the release states.
Both Porter and Lethco were last seen in the Sevier County area of Highway 411 wearing a white shirt and black-and-white striped pants.
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