By Jon Mayhew

Exclusive: Man ran because he didn’t want to go back to jail

LINCOLNTON – Authorities from Lincolnton Police and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office teamed up Monday afternoon to apprehend a suspect who escaped the sally port – the garage where cruisers park with prisoners in them -- at the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center. Lincolnton Police detective Matt Painter said he was bringing Jeremy William Smith of West Boyd Street in Maiden in on charges of breaking and entering to N.C. Spinning on Industrial Park Road.

Painter said he and Smith were in the sally port of the jail when Smith took off running.

“The door to the port was coming down and Smith slid under it,” said Painter, adding Smith was handcuffed at the time.

Jeremy William Smith of Maiden cools his heels in a Lincoln County Sheriff's Department cruiser after escaping from the sally port at the Harevn A. Crouse Detention Center Monday afternoon. Smith answered the question "why did you run" in exclusive Lincoln Tribune video.

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Within moments, officers from both agencies set up a perimeter from the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center down Wilma Sigmon Road to Generals Boulevard up to East Main Street in Lincolnton. A reverse 911 announcement was sent out to businesses and residences in the perimeter and one school, G.E. Massey Elementary, was placed on lockdown. Restaurants and other businesses along East Main Street were also warned of the escapee.

Authorities called in Lincolnton Police officer Brandon Hunsucker and his canine, Hary, to assist with the search.

While school officials at Lincoln County Schools said students were out of class on Monday, authorities knew some children would be at the school.

“We got them all inside then locked the school down,” said Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Barry Taylor.

Just before 4 p.m. – an hour after Smith fled authorities – he was apprehended in the woods near the Lincoln County School of Technology. In exclusive Lincoln Tribune video on www.lincolntribune.com, Smith was asked why he ran from authorities while waiting at the Magistrate’s Office on charges of felony escape.

“I didn’t want to go back to jail,” said Smith, clearing his throat.

While Investigator Painter was working on that additional charge, Smith was kept in a LCSO cruiser with jailer officer Tim Johnson and officer Connie Queen keeping watch over Smith.

At one point during the chase, the suspect crossed in front of Sheriff Office investigator Robin Powell. Powell said she was on her way to a clearing in the woods when the suspect ran in front of her car.

She confirmed Smith was wearing a wind breaker, blue jeans and a tee shirt with his hands handcuffed in the front. Authorities weren’t sure whether or not he slipped out of the handcuffs.

Bond on the breaking and entering charges was set at $45,000. Painter said he was hoping bond on the felony escape charge would be set at $100,000.