County jail inmate escapes from local hospital
Police reported Sunday evening locating the discarded ID bracelet and hospital gown of a Hamilton County Jail inmate who remained at large after escaping around 6:30 a.m. Sunday while undergoing treatment at Erlanger hospital.
The inmate, 29-year-old Anthony Labron Bell, was arrested in May and is accused of robbing the Papa John’s restaurant located at 5942 Highway 58 on May
2, Hamilton County court records show.
According to a news release, Chattanooga police responded around 2 p.m. Sun- day to Professional Industrial Tire on the
1500 block of Riverside Drive to a report of a commercial burglary.
CPD officers determined that the business had been burglarized and found the hospital gown and identification bracelet that had been worn by Bell.
“Even though his handcuffs were not located, law enforcement personnel believe that Bell may have been able to find the tools necessary to either remove them or at least cut the chain,” reads the Sunday evening news release. “Due to the availability of various types of work clothes located in the business, we are not able to give an accurate description of what Bell is wearing at this time.”
Earlier Sunday afternoon, Bell was added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top 10 Most Wanted list in hopes of spreading the word of his escape statewide.
Bell was brought to Erlanger on Friday, but the reason for his visit
was not released.
“HCSO Criminal Investigations Division personnel are currently investigating how Bell managed to escape. An Internal Affairs Investigation has also begun to investigate if proper policies and procedures were followed,” reads an HCSO news release.
Bell is a black man, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 160 pounds, law enforcement officials said. At the time of his escape, Bell reportedly was wearing handcuffs, no shoes, and the green hospital gown.
Bell’s charges include six counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated child abuse or neglect, unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon, aggravated burglary, bribery of a public servant, felon in possession of a firearm, simple possession of marijuana, and a count of statutory rape, which has a pending hold order from Lowndes County, Georgia.
Anyone with information on Bell’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 423-622-0022.