COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — UPDATE (Sept. 7): The Cocke County Sheriff's Office said that Eric "E.B." Ballard was arrested in Alabama.
CCSO along with the United States Marshal’s Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force and the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force arrested Ballard.
CCSO investigators said that Ballard was located in Mobile, Alabama.
Ballard tried to flee on foot but was quickly located by one of the K-9 partners, deputies said.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Newport Police Department, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation assisted with Ballard's arrest.
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UPDATE (Sept. 7): The Cocke County Sheriff's Office said Christopher Webb was taken into custody near Exit 8 in Morristown. He was taken to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for holding, according to a release.
They said felony charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing into the escape. Eric Ballard, the other escapee, is still on the run. they said anyone with information about his location should call 423-623-3064.
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The Cocke County Sheriff's Office said Friday two inmates who were on litter duty at around 3 p.m. ran off after telling deputies they needed to use the bathroom.
They said Christopher Lee Webb and Eric Scott Ballard had escaped after telling deputies that they needed to use the bathroom around two minutes apart from each other. They entered some nearby woods on Industrial Road, across from a litter van, off I 25E.
Around ten minutes later, the deputy said he lost sight of both inmates and looked for them for around seven minutes. He then loaded other inmates back into the van and notified dispatch at around 3:35 p.m.
The Cocke County Sheriff's Office said they were searching the area with deputies and K-9 units. However, they said both men may have been picked up.
Anyone with information about the men should call dispatch at 423-623-3064 or 423-623-6004 after 8 a.m.
The men have charges of theft, probation violations, drug charges and driving charges. According to the release, both men were on a trusty roll for several months. As part of that, they were given extra permission while serving time after showing good behavior.