Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday that two detainees had escaped an adult detention center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas—one of whom was jailed for probable cause for capital murder—according to a press release, prompting a manhunt to find the escapees.
The sheriff’s office realized the two detainees at the Dub Brassell Adult Detention Center had escaped around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, the release said, and officials believe they may have escaped within the last 48 hours.
Both individuals are considered dangerous by law enforcement, but Maj. John Bean told the New York Times he doesn't believe they are armed.
Noah Roush, 22, was being detained on probable cause for residential burglary and property theft—and is also a suspect in a homicide—and Jatonia Bryant, 23, was being held on probable cause for capital murder.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is working with the Pine Bluff Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics division, Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Department of Corrections in the search.
Officials are asking anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
How the detainees escaped, and whether they escaped together. Bean told the New York Times the two men escaped undetected and said officials are still investigating whether they worked together.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas is about 40 miles south of Little Rock and has a population of a little more than 40,000. The Arkansas manhunt follows a manhunt in Pennsylvania in September 2023 that captivated the nation after prisoner Danelo Cavalcante was caught by police after eluding them for 13 days. The hunt for Cavalcante disrupted life in Chester County as police warned people to keep their doors locked and some school districts even closed their doors while the manhunt went on.