Five men escape Georgia jail; Two accused of murder

HAWKINSVILLE, Ga. — A manhunt was underway Saturday in central Georgia for five men who escaped a county jail.

Pulaski County Sheriff Danny Brannen said federal marshals, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol and multiple sheriff’s offices in the area are helping in the search.

Brannen said at 11 p.m. Friday, the inmates were supposed to be in lockdown. One of two jailers working was in a cell talking to an inmate when another inmate attacked the guard. The sheriff said the inmates told the jailer they were going to kill her, then took her car keys and attacked the other jailer on duty.

The jailers were not hurt in the attack.

“I’m thinking they’re not in Hawkinsville no more,” Brannen said.

Capt. Larry Jackson said the inmates were traveling in a stolen, white 2015 Kia Sedona. The license plate number is CMP 8628, he said.

Authorities do not know where the men are headed.

The escaped inmates include Tyree Williams, who’s charged with felony murder and home invasion for allegedly shooting a man in July 2020. Also Dennis Penix, who is accused of killing two men in 2017 in a drug deal gone bad.

The other three are Brandon Pooler, accused of child cruelty; Tyree Jackson, who’s charged in car-break-ins; and Lewis Evans, accused of obstructing an officer.

Jackson said the inmates should be considered extremely dangerous and said people should not take action on their own. Anyone with information on the men’s whereabouts should call 911, the Pulaski County sheriff’s office at 478783-1212 or Hawkinsville Crimestoppers at 478783-9255.