Monticello man escapes from jail, apprehended within 4 minutes

MONTICELLO, Ky. – A Monticello man had a short-lived escape from jail on Monday.

According to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Shane Cooney of Monticello had just been returning to the Wayne County Detention Center after he appeared in court on theft and fraudulent use of credit/gift card charges from his previous arrest.

The sheriff’s office says Cooney slipped out of his leg restraint and fled while being taken toward the inside of the jail.

Wayne County 911 Dispatch Center dispatched all available units to respond for an attempt to locate Cooney at 3:01 p.m.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office says one of its deputies, James Barnett, was in the area and responded to the Country Heights Subdivision, a location in the direction the inmate had been seen running toward.

Barnett then reportedly located Cooney and took him into custody without any resistance about four minutes later at 3:05 p.m.

Cooney was arrested and charged with second-degree escape.

Other responding units included Wayne County Sheriff’s Office deputy Valis Smedley, sheriff Catron, Monticello Police Department Major Josh Asberry and Wayne County deputy jailers David Morvac and Bob Sherwood.