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Robbery suspect escapes custody in Mount Olivet
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By WENDY MITCHELL
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MOUNT OLIVET -- As family members of bank robbery suspect Jeffrey Pratt gathered near and in the Robertson County Courthouse Monday, word came that Pratt had escaped as he arrived for court.
Pratt, who was being held in Scott County Detention Center on another jurisdiction's charges, is a suspect in the March robbery of Integra Bank in Mount Olivet.
Police in Robertson County and Harrison County, plus a detail from Kentucky State Police immediately converged on the area of Mount Olivet and patrolled the roads leading out of the area in search of the shackled inmate.
Pratt, who arrived at the courthouse from SCDC shortly before the scheduled 1 p.m. beginning of court, allegedly knocked one member of his security detail, Marvin Mullikin off balance and fled in a green Dodge Neon car police later identified as belonging to Pratt's mother.
Pratt's family members were immediately sequestered in the courthouse to the area of the sheriff's office and the remaining prisoners, who had arrived from Mason County Detention Center before Pratt including his alleged co-defendants, were moved to the main courthouse.
When asked who had arrived in the green Neon, a woman identified as Pratt's sister replied she had. The woman said the ignition key had been left in the unlocked car. She bristled at an accusation from Jailer Eddie Jacobs that the keys had been purposely left in the car.
"He was cuffed and wearing leg irons ... and knocked him over when he (Mullikin) opened the door of the van," assistant transportation officer Judy Mullikin said to Circuit Court Judge Robert McGinnis when asked how Pratt had escaped.
She described Pratt as well behaved during the drive from Scott County; only when he bolted did she see his demeanor change.
Pratt may be headed to the Harrison County area; he is from Cynthiana, police said.
"He knows the back roads really well," said Robertson County Sheriff Randy Insko.
Jacobs had attempted to chase Pratt but lost sight of him as Pratt headed east on U.S. 62.
"He may have doubled back across Kentucky 1029 from U.S. 62. He is probably headed back toward Harrison County," said Jacobs.
Pretrial court dates for his alleged co-defendants, Anna M. Smith and Miguel D. Ayala have been set for Aug. 11. Ayala remains in jail while Smith is out on bond. All are facing complicity in theft over $300.
Additional charges are pending against Pratt, including escape, Insko said.
According to police, on March 19, a man wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt entered the Integra Bank in the center of Mount Olivet shortly after lunch time and left with approximately $3,000. Smith and Ayala were first arrested in connection with the heist while Pratt, who police believe was the man who entered the bank that day, was apprehended later.
Anyone with information on Pratt's whereabouts should contact local police or KSP at 800-222-5555.
For more area news, go to www.maysville-online.com
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 276. |
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