HARDIN CO., Ill.—According to our sources on the ground in Hardin County, an inmate at the little local jail has escaped the facility, this at about noon today.
Robert H. Rush from his Facebook page
UPDATE: The inmate is Robert H. Rush, 30, from Elizabethtown. According to officials with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, Rush was arrested and being taken in to the jail at about 11:20 this morning. When the officer got Rush up to the jail and was prepping him to be fingerprinted, Rush is alleged to have turned and ran.
At that point, he is alleged to have stolen a four-wheeler and was able to get away to a rural area out in the county. The four-wheeler is described as a green Honda with a camouflage bag on the back of it.
Illinois State Police in District 22 out of Ullin, we’ve confirmed, has joined the search.
Rush is described as 6 feet tall and about 180 pounds, He has blondish-brown hair, which looks different than what it does in the attendant photo; Hardin sources have advised that it’s very short now.
Hardin authorities believe Rush might have been headed a back way into neighboring Gallatin County to the north; from there, he might be attempting to get back to St. Louis, where he’s reported to be working.
PLEASE be aware this is going on and use caution if you’re out and about in Hardin. We’ll keep you updated as we can.