On Sunday evening, November 16th, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of an escaped inmate, Joseph Brown, 39, who was assigned to kitchen work detail at the local jail. Taking advantage of his trusted position, Brown removed his green-and-white striped inmate uniform top and slipped away approximately 50 yards from the jail kitchens.
Deputies immediately launched an intensive search involving K9 units, detectives, drones, and helicopters from both the Sumter County and Citrus County Sheriff’s Office aviation units. During the manhunt, Brown was spotted on a doorbell camera stealing a white e-bike from a nearby residence. Investigators tracked his movements through law enforcement resources and tips from the public, ultimately locating him near CR 675. Brown attempted to evade capture by entering a pond but exited without further incident and was taken into custody.
Authorities confirmed that new security procedures are being implemented at the jail to prevent similar escape attempts in the future. No injuries were reported during the incident, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office thanked the community for its assistance.
The case remains under review, and officials are not disclosing additional details of the escape for security reasons.
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