Lincoln County sheriff still looking for jail escapee

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office still is looking for a man who escaped from the Lincoln County Jail on Friday and is asking for the public’s help to find him.

Ronald Alan Rutledge, 34, had been in the Lincoln County Jail since Sept. 1 on charges of burglary and vehicle theft.

A jail employee took the garbage out of the jail on Friday morning around 8:30 a.m., which allowed Rutledge to escape. He took an employee’s car keys and left in the employee’s car, the sheriff’s office said. The car was later abandoned and Rutledge stole an ATV, which was also recovered.

He is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall and 203 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has an “Addy” tattoo on his right chest and a “Maci” tattoo on his left chest as well as lines on his left arm.

Rutledge was wearing a black and white striped jump suit, but has since changed clothes, the Sheriff’s Office said. He was spotted wearing a blue jacket and a green beanie hat. He was last seen on foot about six miles northwest of Reardan near state Route 231.

Rutledge has connections in the Ford and Springdale area of Stevens County. Anyone who has information on his location is asked to call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at (509) 725-3501.