Two inmates, who overpowered an officer and escaped from the Rutherford County Adult Detention Facility overnight, have been added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Top 10 Most Wanted list.
Officials said at about 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, Dewayne Halfacre and Jonathan Baxter assaulted a detention officer, climbed over the fence, and escaped the jail. They fled with the deputy's radio.
The officer was treated at the scene for his or her injuries.
The TBI said the reward for information leading to their capture has increased to $5,000 each.
TOP TEN #MostWanted ALERT: These two men escaped from the Rutherford County Jail after assaulting a jail guard!
Be on the lookout!
Call 1-800-TBI-FIND if you spot either man! Up to $2,500 reward on each!#Tennessee#RutherfordCounty#Murfreesboro#TN#TopTen#Wanted#Top10pic.twitter.com/gaD00WTx6U
— TBI (@TBInvestigation) October 10, 2018
Deputies, with the help of Murfreesboro Police, are searching the area of New Salem Highway for the two men. K-9 officers are also working to track the inmates. Officials said they could be armed with a "homemade weapon."
“The investigation reveals another detention officer failed to follow proper procedures after the deputy was assaulted, resulting in the inmates escaping through an outside door,” Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh said. “The investigation on the improper procedure is ongoing.”
A 2005 grey Honda Civic was stolen from an auto auction just a few blocks from the jail along Old Fort Parkway around 3 a.m.
The suspects allegedly jumped over an electrified fence to enter the secure lot. The keys were reportedly inside the car, but it apparently did not have much gas.
The vehicle was later recovered in Smyrna.
Schools in Rutherford County have been placed on "Code Yellow" lockdown as a precaution. Visitors will be restricted from entering school buildings today.
Halfacre's arrest in an aggravated assault case was heavily reported by NewsChannel 5. He was placed on the TBI's Most Wanted list in early 2018. He and another man are accused of carrying two semi-automatic handguns into the Almaville Market and robbing the clerks inside.
The sheriff's office said both inmates were wearing white t-shirts and orange pants at the time of the escape.
If anyone sees men matching their descriptions, call 911 right away.
