Today at about 1pm Ronald Kile Hartsell age 27 of Newport walked away from a work detail at the Walnut Ridge Street Dept.
Hartsell is described as a white male, with brown hair and eyes with a medium build, 5foot 5inches tall. Hartsell was in jail on drug charges.
Officers spoke with other inmates about Hartsell and learned that his mother was possibly sick in the hospital in Jonesboro and that he might be trying to get to Jonesboro. Hartsell may also have family in the Tuckerman and Newport areas.
Surrounding law enforcement agencies have been notified and a local pilot has a helicopter in the air in search for the prisoner.
Hartsell was wearing a white t shirt with black and white strip pants. Hartsell is reported to have changed into a pair of camouflage coveralls. He may be headed to Newport . If spotted please call your local police department or 911.
****Sheriff Jody Dotson stated that Hartsell was picked up in Walnut Ridge and made his way to Alicia.
He was spotted wearing a pair of green camouflage coveralls between Alicia and Swifton.
Hartsell was last seen walking at 3:00pm across the line into Jackson County.