By The Paper staff
WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – An inmate at the Wabash County Jail briefly escaped from custody while being transferred from the Wabash County Courthouse to the jail on Monday, Dec. 19.
The inmate, Rodney J. Reahard, 26, escaped from custody at the Wabash County Courthouse, Sheriff Bob Land said in a news release.
As jail officers were transporting inmates back to the Jail from court, Reahard, assisted by another inmate, escaped from custody and ran west to the Wabash Carnegie Public Library, where he was taken into custody while hiding in the restroom.
Reahard was back in custody within five minutes, Land said.
All inmates are transported back to the jail down a small stairwell, which has landings on each floor. The inmates, who were all chained together, waited until turning the corner on one of these landings. As they turned on the landing, which is out of sight of the Jail Officer, Reahard was able to free himself from the chain.
Charges are pending on both Reahard and Eugene R. Farmer, 38, in the incident.
Land also said that modifications have been made to the inmate transfer chain.