Cocke County Inmates Still At Large

Two escaped inmates from the Cocke County jail remain at large. Eric Ballard and Christopher Lee Webb were out with the litter crew Friday afternoon working on Industrial Road near US 25E. The two men needed to use the bathroom so were given permission by the supervising deputy to enter some nearby woods, which they did about two minutes apart. Within 5-7 minutes, the deputy had lost sight of both men. K-9’s were brought in to search the area as the other inmates on the litter crew were taken back to the jail. Sheriff CJ Ball says the two men may have had help and may have been picked up. Ballard and Webb were both trustees in the jail and had earned extra privileges due to good behavior. Both men were serving time in jail for drug charges, theft, and probation violation.
Anyone with information should call the Cocke County Sheriff’s office at 623-6004. Off hours number is 623-6034.