Newton County Sheriff Joedy Pennington said parts of the county jail not up to specifications are being remodeled after an inmate escaped custody Friday evening.
Shaiketha Clayton, 32, was initially arrested March 1 by Newton Police Department and charged with falsification of information to an officer and attempted murder. The charges were later downgraded to simple assault.
On Friday, Clayton escaped from Newton County Jail by climbing through the ceiling, Pennington said.
“Around 5 p.m. Friday evening, jailers noticed an inmate missing from the female dormitory,” he said. “She went up through the ceiling tiles with the help of another inmate and found a way across the front wall.”
Deputies and officers with Newton Police Department searched the area and took Clayton back into custody early Saturday. In addition to the simple assault, Clayton will face an additional charge of escaping a correctional facility.
“She was back in custody by 7 a.m. the next morning,” Pennington said. “She has been charged and the inmate who helped her has been charged.”
Pennington said his predecessor, Jackie Knight, had previously told him parts of the county jail were not built to specification, and after examining Clayton’s escape, he said he agrees.
“Jackie Knight was right,” he said. “The jail is not up to specs.”
However, work has already begun to correct the issues with the jail.
“The problem is being corrected,” Pennington said. “It will not happen again.’
Pennington said he sends his thanks to Newton Police Department and Chief Randy Patrick for their assistance in Friday’s incident.
