A Carter County inmate who walked off work detail Monday after reportedly assaulting a fellow trusty turned himself in to police Tuesday afternoon.
Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford said James Edward Walton, 47, of Elizabethton, turned himself in to officers around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. “it’
According to police, Walton walked away from a work detail in Roan Mountain around 3 p.m. on Monday. On Tuesday morning, Lunceford released more information about the incident involving Walton and the second inmate.
Lunceford said Walton assaulted another inmate at the work site before fleeing.
“He hit him with a shovel and ran,” Lunceford said. “We don’t know what caused the altercation at this time.”
“We’re still in the process of investigating it,” Lunceford added.
The injured man was later transported to a hospital for treatment. Lunceford said his department is not releasing the name of the injured inmate at this time.
“All indication at the time of the incident was that he was not injured. It didn’t cut him or anything,” Lunceford said. “As time went on and our medical staff continued to monitor him it became apparent there was something serious going on.”
Medical staff at the detention center sent the injured inmate to the hospital for treatment, and the inmate underwent surgery according to Lunceford.
Officers charged Walton with escape in connection with his fleeing his work detail site. Lunceford said charges against Walton are currently pending regarding the assault on the other inmate.
Walton was serving time in the Carter County Detention Center on a violation of probation charge, and Lunceford said Walton was not considered a violent or dangerous inmate before the incident on Monday. “He wouldn’t have been on a work detail if he was,” Lunceford said.
A search of records with the Carter County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office revealed multiple prior convictions in Walton’s record. Walton is currently serving time for violating the terms of his probation following convictions on multiple charges including burglary, theft over $1,000, and vandalism over $500.