Beech Tree News Network

UPDATE: Emmette Whitehead was returned to jail on July 18th.

Local law enforcement officers are searching for an inmate that escaped from a jail work crew on Thursday morning.

Emmette Whitehead, 46, of Morgantown, was a part of the city work crew, and was on lunch break when he went to the restroom and never returned. He was reported missing at approximately 11:15 a.m. The jail was notified at that time, along with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, the Kentucky State Police, and surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Jail officials say that their initial investigation shows that Whitehead had made arrangements by phone to have an accomplice meet him at the park with an automobile. Whitehead changed out of his orange jail jumpsuit in the bathroom, and it is believed his left the park area in a gray Saturn automobile.

Warrants have been issued for both Whitehead and his possible accomplices, and jail officials say that they are currently following up on other leads.

Whitehead was a Butler County inmate jailed for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs/alcohol, speeding, driving with a suspended license, wanton endangerment, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and manufacturing methamphetamine. He is 6’, 170-180 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Whitehead should contact the Butler County Sheriff’s Office at 270-526-3676.