Middle TN jail deputy suspended after enabling inmates’ escape

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Middle Tennessee sheriff’s office has suspended an adult detention center employee for two weeks without pay for enabling two inmates to escape.

According to a news release on Wednesday, Rutherford County Deputy Beth Miles — who has worked for the county’s detention center for nine years — was also placed on probation for one year.

The sheriff’s office says Miles was working as the central control operator when two inmates were accused of assaulting another detention deputy on Oct. 10. Miles was in charge of operating the doors so deputies could respond to the injured employee. However, sheriff officials say she failed to properly identity the people requesting entry into a secure area — which allowed the inmates to escape.

The two inmates were returned to the jail after a 35-hour manhunt.