Ga. jail escapee sought in area of S.C. swamp

Authorities set up perimeter in hopes of making capture.

Investigators believe an escaped inmate was spotted running from woods to a nearby swamp in South Carolina, an Augusta television station reported Wednesday.

Christopher Nicholas Carroll escaped from the Lamar County jail in Georgia Tuesday and drove away in a county van, according to police. Investigators believe Carroll used a metal rod from a shower to knock out part of a wall. He then shimmied through the hole he created to get outside the Lamar County jail, Channel 2 Action News reported. Once outside, Carroll escaped through a hole in a chain fence.

The van was found early Wednesday in Allendale County, S.C., according to police.

“The South Carolina State Patrol has set up a perimeter and are attempting to locate him,” Lamah Sheriff Brad White said.

Wednesday afternoon, deputies had arrived on U.S. 301 just outside of Ulmer, S.C., according to WRDW Channel 12.

Carroll reportedly fled into a swamp area after being sighted in the woods, the station reported.

Carroll was in the Lamar jail on three counts of obstruction of an officer and one count of theft by receiving stolen property, the sheriff ’s office said.

The 5-foot-9, 165-pound man is scheduled to go to prison on Thursday, Channel 2 reported.

Anyone with information about Carroll’s whereabouts is asked to call 911.

Lamar County is about 60 miles south of downtown Atlanta.