The Etowah County inmate who walked away from a work detail on Wednesday afternoon has been captured. Sheriff Todd Entrekin said that 41 year old Robert Wesley James was taken into custody at around 11:00 that night following a brief vehicle pursuit on I-759 into Attalla on Cleveland Avenue.

A call was made to the sheriff’s office by Detention Deputy Tyler Daniel, who was off-duty – after he witnessed the suspect leaving the Jet-Pep Station on Rainbow Drive, heading north on 411. Deputy Tara Bates spotted the white Ford pickup on Rainbow Drive and she along with other law enforcement officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on I-759 – however, James refused to stop and lead officers on a high-speed chase which finally ended when he wrecked the vehicle on Cleveland Avenue.

He had left the Etowah County Judicial Building Wednesday afternoon around 4:45 – taking a County Maintenance Department truck in his escape.

James had previously been detained on property crimes and on burglary and theft charges, in addition to a misdemeanor drug charge; he now faces additional charges, including First Degree Escape; First, Second and Third Degree Theft of Property; Attempting to Elude and Resisting Arrest.

He remains in the Etowah County Detention Center without bond.