Petersburg police are searching for an inmate who escaped from the Petersburg jail Friday morning.
Police reported the escape of 22-year-old Jacob Sturgeon of Petersburg just before 11 a.m. on Friday. He reportedly removed his shirt and shoes while running past the borough’s public works shop on South Second Street. Sturgeon was described as 5 foot nine inches, 180 pounds with brown hair.
Sturgeon was in custody and charged with two counts of assault and one count of resisting arrest. According to a court document, police attempted to arrest Sturgeon last Friday, February 5th at a residence on Lumber Street following a report of an assault. Police allege he pushed down the officer and ran into the wooded area behind Lumber Street at that time. He was arrested after that incident.
Sturgeon had a bail hearing Friday morning and his bail was maintained at $500. Sturgeon called into that bail hearing from the jail shortly before his escape.
The schools and community gym have been locked down during the search, although only elementary school students are in class today.
Joe Viechnicki is a reporter at KFSK in Petersburg.
