Deputies Say Inmate Briefly Escaped in Lonoke County

An inmate briefly escaped from the custody of the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office this afternoon.

It started shortly after 2:00 p.m. when a Detention Officer transported 23-year-old Alicia Dawn Ballard to the Sherwood Urgent Care Unit in Lonoke.

 Ballard had complained of a medical problem.

 While at the clinic, the officer removed the shackles in order for Ballard to be examined. 

According to authorities, the woman removed her pants then slammed the door in the Detention Officer's face and fled the building through another door. 

Deputies and Lonoke Police Officers began a search of the area. 

Deputies say Ballard ran to a residence in Lonoke wearing a T-shirt and underwear, where she asked the resident to use their phone because she had an emergency. 

The resident allowed Ballard to use the phone and gave her some clothes to put on. 

Ballard then left while the resident was calling police.

Ballard was picked up by a woman driving down the road.

The woman driver saw Ballard and thought she needed help.

While in the car, the woman observed the deputies and Police Officer's searching the area. 

Ballard told the woman they were looking for her and she was running from them, according to the deputies. 

The woman then drove Ballard to the Lonoke Police Department at which time Ballard jumped out of the car and ran to a residential area.

 At around 3:00 p.m., Ballard was located. 

Ballard was taken into custody and returned to the Detention Facility. 

She is being held at the Detention Facility for a no-bond warrant for drug violations. 

Ballard also has an arrest warrant from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office for Fleeing, Resisting Arrest, 2nd degree Assault, and Theft by Receiving.

She will now face an additional charge of 2nd Degree Escape, a Class-B felony.