Escaped Whitley Co. inmate apprehended, charged with attempted murder
UPDATE Oct. 6 at 1:42 p.m.
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The Kentucky State Police says it is investigating the events surrounding a Whitley County inmate’s escape and the alleged assault of deputy jailers.
According to a release on Tuesday afternoon, on Oct. 4 around 10 p.m. CST, troopers received a call from Whitley County 911 stating several inmates had taken control of the jail, with several injured deputy jailers on site.
Authorities say they were also advised that 42-year-old Charles Blake Randle of Springfield had escaped from the jail.
Upon arrival, troopers say they resecured the integrity of the jail with the help of staff and local law enforcement.
According to authorities, a preliminary investigation determined that while a deputy jailer was patrolling the inside of the cells, four inmates, including 55-year-old James Fields of Ashcamp, 19-year-old Roy Cox of Corbin, 45-year-old Anthony Tucker of Corbin and Randle waited for the door to open before they “caught and held the door open to escape.”
Troopers say Randle, Cox and Fields left their cell and entered the jail’s control room.
Authorities say while there, the three men “attacked several deputy jailers, causing serious injuries to one deputy jailer’s head by striking him with a mop bucket, stabbing another deputy jailer with a pencil and deploying OC spray into the face of a third.”
Randle was then able to leave the jail facility, authorities say.
Randle remained on the run until Monday, Oct. 5 around 10 p.m. CST, when he was located by troopers, according to Trooper Corey Jones.
Cox and Fields were charged with three counts of first-degree assault of a police officer, three counts of first-degree attempted murder and one count of first-degree attempted escape.
Tucker was charged with three counts of first-degree complicity to commit assault of a police officer, three counts of first-degree complicity to commit attempted murder and one count of first-degree escape.
Randle has been charged with three counts of first-degree assault of a police officer, three counts of first-degree attempted murder and one count of first-degree escape.
The deputy jailers who were injured during the assault were transported to Baptist Health in Corbin and the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital by Whitley County EMS for their injuries, where they were treated and later released.
This case remains under investigation. KSP was also assisted on scene by Whitley County Sheriff’s Office, Williamsburg Police Department, Corbin Police Department, Whitley County Detention Center, Whitley County EMS, London Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.
UPDATE Oct. 6 at 11:54 a.m.
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The Kentucky State Police says Charles Blake Randle has been located.
Around 8 p.m. CST Monday night, troopers say Randle was taken into custody.
He is charged with first-degree escape, first-degree assault of a police officer and attempted murder.
Original Story (Oct. 5 at 8:34 a.m.)
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Kentucky State Police is searching for an escaped inmate who may be armed and dangerous.
According to KSP, 42-year-old Charles Blake Randle escaped from the Whitley County Detention Center Monday.
Randle is described as a 6’1″ white male with brown hair and hazel eyes and weighs around 190 pounds.
Randle was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and incest.
He is considered armed and dangerous by KSP.
If located, contact 606-878-6622.
