Escaped Inmate Captured In Northport; Handgun Recovered

NORTHPORT, AL — An escapee from Haleyville was apprehended around noon Thursday after prompting a large-scale manhunt in Northport that involved numerous agencies.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

As Patch previously reported, a public safety alert was issued to mobile devices in the area Thursday morning after Joseph Ray Perkins walked off a work detail in the early morning hours on Wednesday. The manhunt focused on the area of Twin Oaks Road East, which runs between Watermelon Road and Union Chapel Road in Northport.

Perkins was serving a 20-year prison sentence for theft at the Hamilton Community Based Facility and Community Work Center at the time of his escape.

The news of his escape and the subsequent revelation that he may be in Northport prompted a large-scale police presence in the area, with UAS operators from both the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office and the Tuscaloosa Police Department on scene, along with a TPD helicopter circling overhead.

Perkins was eventually found hiding in a trailer off of Watermelon Road on property owned by Shirley Concrete.

"We do know he was involved in the theft of a vehicle this morning, which led to a pursuit," Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy said. "(His capture) occurred through all of the agencies in Tuscaloosa County working together."

When officers took Perkins into custody, a loaded handgun was also recovered, which Abernathy said underscored the dangers posed by Perkins.

Abernathy then praised the collective work of the different agencies in quickly locating the escapee.

"I'm very proud of the job the troops have done here and the way they worked together to accomplish this mission," he said. "And of course it's a big relief to our citizens and myself."

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com