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| State asking why inmate left jail, later found in raid |
| By Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |
| Published: 03/12/2001 |
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The Arkansas Department of Correction is investigating why a state prisoner housed at the Conway County jail was found at an alleged methamphetamine laboratory near Shirley in Van Buren County. 'This is a serious incident and we want to find out what happened,' prison spokesman Dina Tyler said recently. Vernon Perkins, 48, was serving time for drug manufacturing and now faces new drug charges in Van Buren County and an escape charge in Conway County. Perkins was a participant in the Act 309 of 1983 program, which allows state prisoners to be quartered in county jails. They perform work for the county, such as jail maintenance. Because of the new charges against him, Perkins has been sent to the Cummins prison unit near Grady. Perkins had been serving a 30-year sentence after being convicted of drug charges in Marion and Baxter counties in 1998, Tyler said. Authorities arrested Perkins and three others after receiving a tip that a drug lab was operating at a local residence, state police investigator Kenny Whillock said. State police and Van Buren County deputies went to the residence and found Perkins there, Whillock said. Conway County Sheriff Mark Flowers said Perkins was picked up at the Conway County jail in Morrilton during visitation hours. When it was discovered that Perkins was missing, deputies immediately notified the Correction Department. Flowers said, adding that inmates are selected for the Act 309 program because they are seen as not needing constant supervision. |
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