Roane County, Tenn. – Charges are pending against a 29-year-old inmate who escaped from the Roane County Detention Facility on Saturday, February 8. The escape occurred after Benjamin R. Johnson scaled the facility’s recreation yard fence, injuring himself on the razor wire in the process.
According to the Roane County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), law enforcement officials were immediately alerted, and a multi-agency response was launched to apprehend Johnson. K-9 units and a drone were deployed to aid in the search. Shortly after 1 p.m., deputies located Johnson in a wooded area near Kingston, where he was taken into custody without further incident.
Johnson had been incarcerated at the Roane County Detention Facility since October 2, facing several charges related to drugs and firearms. Authorities did not specify the extent of the injuries Johnson sustained during his escape but confirmed he was treated at the scene.
A number of local and state agencies assisted in the search, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Kingston Police Department, and Rockwood Police Department. The sheriff’s office confirmed that charges related to the escape are forthcoming.
The incident remains under investigation.
