Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Lock & load: Escapees on the loose in Rankin

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following press release and pictures:

Rankin County Law Enforcement on Manhunt for Florida Escapees

            On Monday April 4, 2016 around 9:24 pm a deputy with the Rankin County Sheriffs Interdiction Task Force was on I-20 west bound around the Pelahatchie exit when he observed a silver Honda Element driving erratically.  A check of the vehicle’s Florida license plate revealed it was reported stolen from Florida earlier in the day.  When the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver pulled to the side of the roadway and immediately fled into a wooded area north of I-20 and east of Hwy 43.  The passenger then jumped into the driver’s seat and continued to flee from the officer until wrecking in a ditch on Hwy 43 just north of the off ramp.  That driver then fled into a wooded area west of Hwy 43.  Deputies from the Sheriff’s, Pearl Police Department, Pelahatchie Police Department, MHP and area Constables established a perimeter and attempted to located the individuals.   


            As the manhunt was underway, dispatchers were able to gather more information from Florida law enforcement on the individuals.  They were identified as JAMES THOMAS BANKS, W/M and MICHAEL ANDREW RUTUNNO, W/M.  Both men escaped custody somewhere between Walton County and Leon County Florida while being transported by a private prisoner transport company to Jackson, Minnesota on criminal charges.  Both individuals have extensive criminal histories, including escape. 


             BANKS is described as a white male, 28 years old 5’10” approximately 197 lbs. with full facial hair.  He was last seen wearing a purple shirt, gray jeans and white tennis shoes.


            RUTUNNO is described as a white male, 30 years old 5’7” approximately 160 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a blue stripped button up shirt, blue jeans and brown leather shoes.  RUTUNNO also has a broken right arm that was in a cast at the time of his escape. 

            The sheriff’s office and police have maintained a presence in the area through the night and will have several additional units in and around East Rankin Academy and Pelahatchie schools on Tuesday

Sheriff Bailey wants to assure parents, school employees and citizens in the area that deputies and police will be in and around the schools to protect them. 

            If you see individuals matching the description given, do not approach them, but call 911.
 

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Loose the hounds, sheriff.

Anonymous said...

Dumb question I guess, but why weren't these guys being transported in, oh I don't know, orange jumpsuits or striped pants and shirts instead of street clothes? At least they'd have had the added element of having to steal normal clothes to be inconspicuous.

Anonymous said...

@9:50 - When being transported from one facility to another, especially to another jurisdiction, inmates or detainees generally travel in the same property in which they arrived to the original facility.

Anonymous said...

They just gotta make it Ward 3 and they will be safe!

Anonymous said...

They ESCAPED from prison... They weren't being transported. They stole a vehicle...

Anonymous said...

Criminals are coming from as far away as Florida to make the run for Jackson and freedom.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the explanation, @10:45. I realize there probably aren't a lot of escapes as a percentage of prisoners being transported, but it still seems like it would be a better idea to dress them conspicuously.

Anonymous said...

Both JJ and the CL say these guys escaped while being transported by private transport; so, 1:48, where did you get "they ESCAPED from prison"?

One guy was being transported from Longview, TX and the other from California....they escaped when in Florida...all this while transported to Minnesota. Can anyone explain this? I'm having difficulty making sense of such a cross-country 'private transport' of individuals with extensive criminal histories.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.