May 12--LEBANON -- The Warren County Sheriff said an extensive investigation is being undertaken to determine how an inmate escaped from police custody on Thursday.
Sheriff Larry Sims said he would not offer any information on how Arlie James Gilbert escaped from police custody while being transported from Warren County Court to a prisoner transport van until the investigation was complete. The investigation could take up to a week to complete, Sims said.
"The investigation is ongoing right now," Sims said. "We're getting all the facts together. Until the investigation is complete, I don't want to comment on it."
Gilbert, 20, of Lebanon, sparked a nearly four-hour manhunt involving several law enforcement agencies, K9 and air units after escaping around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Gilbert was recaptured approximately four hours later at the Concord Square Apartments on the corner of Cincinnati Avenue and West Street, approximately 11/2 miles away from where he escaped.
Gilbert had escaped in jail clothes and was in handcuffs, but the handcuffs were off and he was wearing clean clothes when he was found. Sims did not say if Gilbert was with anyone when he was captured or if anyone else would be charged for assisting him.
Gilbert had been scheduled to appear in court Thursday afternoon on felony burglary charges as well as underage consumption and open container misdemeanor charges. He was arraigned earlier in the morning in Mason Municipal Court on a different charge. He will now also face escape charges.
Staff Writer Michael D. Pitman contributed to this story.
Copyright 2012 - Dayton Daily News, Ohio
