Inmate's 'shank' found before he can escape
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ALBANY, Ore. - Authorities thwarted the potential escape of a Linn County Jail inmate after discovering a handmade weapon during an inspection.
Deputies found the weapon in the jail cell of Josh Shaddon, 33, who has been in the Linn County Jail following the murder of his mother, Arlis 'Gerlene' Thorne, in Brownsville on October 23, 2009. Shaddon is also charged with attempted assault of his stepfather.
Sheriff Tim Mueller of Linn County said Shaddon tried to fashion his ticket to freedom out of a standard inmate hair comb.
"It's plastic, so it's obviously softer than the concrete," Sheriff Mueller said. "Just rub it on the concrete until you work it down into a point."
Authorities found something else during the inspection of Shaddon's cell.
"They discovered the security bolts had been loosened on a heavy brass door handle," Sheriff Mueller said. "Just a couple of turns on the screws and it would have come right off."
Sheriff Mueller said the handle could have been easily removed and used as a club.
But deputies got a tip about Shaddon's plan before he could act on it.
"Through the diligent work that those guys do, they actually got information that there could be an escape attempt being planned," Sheriff Mueller said.
The convicted murderer is scheduled to be in court Wednesday.
Sheriff Mueller said there's a good chance that is when Shaddon would have put his plan into action.
"Let's just say it slipped through the cracks and it did wind up over at the court house, there's plenty of opportunities for them to try to arrange something as far as an escape goes between here and the Linn County courthouse," Sheriff Mueller said.
Shaddon is now in the high risk offender area of the jail. The inmate could face more charges. The case has been handed over to the Linn County District Attorney's Office.
