Man flees jail through skylight

Staff Writer

An inmate escaped from the Upson County Jail early Friday morning by climbing to freedom through a skylight.

Kris Hunt, 26, "escaped from the jail by somehow climbing to a skylight located in the ceiling." according to a press release from the Upson County Sheriff's Department.

Hunt, according to reports, left the jail between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Sheriff Don Peacock said a nationwide lookout has been posted.

Authorities say Hunt left the Aviation Drive facility by "bursting the skylight and crawling out onto the roof."

Hunt, described as being 6-feet tall and weighing 150 pounds with black hair and blue eyes, was in a protective custody cell with one other inmate, according to the sheriff.

"This is the first escape from the new Upson County Jail since it was occupied in March of 2003," the sheriff said in a release sent to the newspaper just after 11 a.m.

"I am disappointed that this has happened," he said. "We will do everything possible to make the jail safe for both the public and other inmates.

"I was a little concerned initially with the design of the skylight, but I was assured by the architect who designed the jail that it couldn't be reached due to it's height.

"We were required to have the skylight in place to assure that the inmates had the necessary natural light required by the Georgia jail standards," the sheriff said.

Hunt was being held in the jail on two counts of criminal trespass and for parole violation, according to reports.

The sheriff said while he regrets the escape occurred, he said he is thankful it was not an inmate charged with a more serious, violent crime.

Shortly after the escape, Hunt's brother, who lives less than one-half mile from the jail, reported that his green 1996 Ford Explorer had been taken along with his cellular telephone.

"He knows his brother took the items because their father spoke to him on the stolen cell phone radio," according to the release. The tag number on the Ford Explorer is 729TNX.

Officials say warrants charging Hunt with Interference with Government Property and escape will be sworn.