The latest from HCSO: The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office says after 35 hours of searching, escaped inmate Anthony Bell was captured late Monday afternoon.
According to Chief Deputy Austin Garrett, Bell was arrested around 5 p.m. Monday. He was found in an area near North Germantown Road with broken handcuffs still attached to his wrists.
Garrett said when officers found him, Bell was not wearing work clothes he was accused of taking from Professional Industrial Tire.He has been taken to Hamilton County Jail.
Law enforcement in Hamilton County are looking for a man who escaped custody while receiving medical treatment at Erlanger Hospital, early Sunday afternoon.
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department officials said the escaped inmate is Anthony Labron Bell.
Bell was being held at the Hamilton County Jail for various felony charges stemming from a Chattanooga Police Department case as well as active hold for a warrant from Lowndes County, Georgia.
According to a press release, Chattanooga police responded at about 2 p.m. on Sunday to Professional Industrial Tire in the 1500 block of Riverside Drive to a report of a commercial burglary.
CPD officers determined that the business had been burglarized and found the hospital gown and identification bracelet that had been worn by Bell.
“Even though his handcuffs were not located, law enforcement personnel believe that Bell may have been able to find the tools necessary to either remove them or at least cut the chain,” the press release states. “Due to the availability of various types of work clothes located in the business, we are not able to give an accurate description of what Bell is wearing at this time.”
Bell was brought to Erlanger Medical Center on Friday, July 5 for medical treatment. The reason for the medical visit cannot be released due to HIPPA privacy regulations, officials said.
HCSO Criminal Investigations Division personnel are currently investigating how Bell managed to escape. An Internal Affairs Investigation has also begun to investigate if proper policies and procedures were followed.
Bell’s Charges are below:
Aggravated Robbery X6
Aggravated Child Abuse or Neglect
Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon
Aggravated Burglary
Bribery of a Public Servant
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Simple Possession of Marijuana
Statutory Rape – Pending Hold from Lowndes County, Georgia
The HCSO would like to ask the community for their assistance in locating Bell. If any person has any information as to his whereabouts please contact the HCSO immediately at 423-622-0022.
Bell was last seen wearing a green Erlanger Hospital gown, no shoes, and in handcuffs.
