News Nearby: Barrow Sheriff Believes Escaped Inmate Left the County

An inmate who walked away from a work detail Oct. 12 is still at large. 

The Athens Banner-Herald reports Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said leads show the inmate, 22-year-old Ross Eugene Hilmo of Auburn, secured a ride out of the county. Hilmo was jailed at the Barrow County Detention Center facing drug charges. 

“He may have flagged someone down or got to a phone. We don’t know," Smith told the newspaper. 

The inmate was part of a work detail crew cutting grass on county property. Deputies searched the area of Tom Miller Road between Ga. Highway 81 South and Haymon-Morris Road throughout the day Monday and continued to search and follow up on leads throughout the night. The Banner-Herald reports tracking dogs were brought in but did not find Hilmo. 

Anyone with any information as to Hilmo's whereabouts or last known location is asked to call the Barrow County Sheriff's Office at 770-307-3080.

According to docket book information, Hilmo was arrested in August and charged with the sale of a schedule I or II controlled substance. He was previously arrested in May and charged with failure to appear and . 

This initially appeared on Barrow Patch.