DeSoto County D.A. frustrated after ‘career criminal’ escapes
HERNANDO, Miss. — Days after a DeSoto County Jail inmate walked out of court on his own and disappeared, a lot of questions remain as to how something like this could happen.
Last Friday, Joshua Zimmerman walked out of the Hernando, Mississippi courthouse, he hasn’t been seen since.
DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton’s office was set to be in court for Zimmerman’s hearing.
“This is as dangerous and as bad as they get,” Barton said. “He’s a career criminal. He has no regard for the safety of other people. It’s a miracle that nobody was hurt in the courthouse or on our square.”
“He has not been indicted,” Barton said. “We actually had his case, scheduled to go on our next grand jury and that’s the status. That was the update we were going (with) for a while with the court on Friday.”
Manhunt underway after inmate escapes from courthouse in DeSoto County, MS
Zimmerman has not yet been indicted but the case was scheduled to be heard by the next grand jury. The case involves an attempted murder charge.
Zimmerman is accused of attacking an elderly Southaven man who hired him to work at his house last September.
But when he went to court, Zimmerman escaped.From the courtroom, down the stairs, past the metal detectors and guards at the front entrance, Zimmerman apparently went unnoticed.
Barton told WREG what happened before Zimmerman even got to the courtroom.
“So I’ve actually I’ve seen a video from inside the courthouse,” Barton said. “They came inside the courthouse, they’re going upstairs to the courtroom. He’s wearing shackles and a jumpsuit like everybody else. He broke from the line (and) went through a door. Sometime later, he left the courthouse with no shackles and street clothes.”
The image above is all the Sheriff’s Department has released at this point and they aren’t saying why no one seemed to notice Zimmerman slip away, especially since the line of inmates are supposed to be guarded and escorted.
WREG asked the Sheriff’s Office how something like this could happen and if anyone would face any disciplinary action.
However, those questions have gone unanswered.
Zimmerman has a beard in his most recent photos (Photos courtesy of the Desoto County Sheriff’s Office) Zimmerman has a beard in his most recent photos (Photos courtesy of the Desoto County Sheriff’s Office)
But, WREG has learned that Zimmerman was in this courthouse at least two times before, back in April and May to get an attorney assigned.
He is being represented by a public defender.
Barton said that the Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to finding Zimmerman.
“I mean quite honestly, I’m frustrated,” Barton said. “I’m kind of angry about it. But you know, right now is the time to focus on solving the problem moving forward.”
U.S. Marshals offering $5K reward for info on DeSoto County escaped inmate
The U.S. Marshals’ Fugitive Task Force is now handling the search for Zimmerman. This weekend, they issued a $5,000 reward for his capture.
The DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office has now doubled that to $10,000.
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