A Georgia resident on Thursday captured an escaped inmate after the man had been evading authorities for three days in the forest.
Escaped inmate goes on the lam for three days
The Towns County Sheriff’s Office reported that 39-year-old inmate Bruce Douglas Partin Jr. fled while on work detail at the county dump, disappearing into the woods last Monday afternoon.
Despite deploying a drone and a K-9 unit, the sheriff’s office was unable to find and rearrest Partin.
Before escaping, he had been held at the Towns County Detention Center while waiting for his court date on charges including marijuana-related offenses, theft, probation violation, and burglary.
On Tuesday, around 1:20 p.m., Partin was seen on a trail camera in the Fodder Creek area near the end of Ivy Mountain Road.
The sheriff’s office shared images from the trail camera on their Facebook page, which showed Partin traversing the woods in his prison garb with a walking stick.
Efforts to locate Partin involved the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Natural Resources, employing every available resource such as aerial patrols and additional K-9 units.
Escaped inmate caught by man’s best friend and his owner
Despite the numerous agencies tasked with finding the escaped inmate, it was man and his dog who took Partin down.
A breakthrough came on Thursday evening when a resident of the Gander Gap area spotted Partin in his orange prison garb at approximately 5:15 p.m.
The resident immediately contacted 911, prompting sheriff’s deputies to flood the vicinity in a renewed search effort.
Around two hours later, Steven Kirby was alerted by his labradoodle, Odie, that someone was lurking outside of his home.
When Kirby investigated, he encountered Partin. Armed with a gun, Kirby ordered Partin to the ground, and the inmate kissed the floor instead of fighting.
Kirby’s wife, Amy, called 911, and deputies raced to the home to take Partin into custody shortly after 7 p.m. the same day.
A photograph posted on the sheriff’s Facebook page shows Kirby aiming his weapon at a prone Partin, whose ankles were crossed and had his hands behind his back.
Kirby’s home is around six miles away from the place Partin fled custody from.
Sheriff Ken Henderson is grateful for the Fodder Creek community’s assistance in apprehending the suspect and Kirby’s preparedness to act.
Henderson remarked, “It is truly a pleasure to work in a community where we can count on the ongoing support of citizens like Mr. Kirby to stand behind us and, in cases like this, even physically aid us when necessary.”
In recognition of their efforts, the Kirby family received a $500 reward for information leading to Partin’s capture. Both Steven Kirby and his dog, Odie, were also commended.
“Sheriff Henderson strongly supports the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms, and he was thankful that Mr. Kirby’s instincts kicked in, and he went above and beyond to not only protect his family and property but his community as well,” the sheriff’s office stated on Facebook.
Homeowner shoots armed intruder
In another incident, a Kentucky homeowner shot and killed an armed intruder who forced his way into the home just after midnight on Saturday.
According to Kentucky State Police, troopers received a report of a shooting in Trigg County.
Authorities initial investigations indicated that the intruder, 25-year-old Austin Gardner, was armed and had forcibly entered the residence and a room within it.
The homeowner shot Gardner, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Trigg County Sheriff Aaron Acree confirmed no arrests had been made, describing the event as an “isolated incident” with no further threat to the public.
Authorities completely blocked off street the home is on for several hours to collect evidence and interview witnesses, for the ongoing investigation.
