|
Christopher Melton and Tyler Roberts. (December 3, 2012) |
LANCASTER — Garrard County authorities have apprehended the second of two men who escaped from a Lexington area prison over the weekend.
About 10:45 a.m. Monday, Garrard deputy sheriffs and Lancaster police officers arrested Tyler Roberts, said Sheriff Ronnie Wardrip.
A farmer saw Roberts, whose last known address was in Lancaster, on Gilberts Creek Road near the Lincoln County line, the sheriff said. Roberts, 21, allegedly tried to run from authorities but peacefully surrendered after a few minutes. He was taken to the Lincoln County Regional Jail where he is being held without bond pending a return to Blackburn Correctional Complex in Fayette County.
Roberts along with Christopher Melton, 23, escaped from the minimum-security prison Saturday. After a brief foot pursuit with Garrard authorities Sunday night, Melton was returned to custody, Wardrip said.
Roberts was serving a 10-year sentence for burglary, theft, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and arson in Garrard and Jessamine counties.
Melton, whose last known address was in Henderson, was serving a six-year sentence for theft and fleeing and evading police.
Both men, who would have been eligible for parole next year, are charged with first-degree escape. If convicted, they could each spend another five to 10 years behind bars. Authorities may also charge Roberts and Melton with fleeing or evading police, Wardrip said.
The sheriff said both men would not have been arrested in a fairly brief amount of time without the help of concerned citizens and teamwork among Garrard, Lancaster and state law enforcement officials.
“I am really proud of all the officers who helped us in the last two days,” Wardrip said. “They truly did an outstanding job.”
