By Fox23.com News Staff
HUGHES COUNTY, Okla. — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) has identified the man who was shot and killed by a trooper near Wetumka on Wednesday afternoon.
The man was identified as Joshua Butler, who escaped from the Okfuskee County jail last week.
Officials said Butler was originally a Hughes County inmate who was being housed at the Okfuskee County Jail pursuant to an inter-county housing arrangement.
According to the sheriff’s office, Butler removed a wall-mounted sink and breached the all to access a plumbing case. He then left through a door thats lock was broken during a water leak. Evidence shows that Butler left on the December 20. His escape was reported by authorities December 25.
On Wednesday, troopers were searching for Butler when they spotted a vehicle of interest just after 12 p.m.
OHP said Butler got out of the vehicle with a rifle and ran into a pasture along State Highway 9, located about two miles west of Wetumka.
Authorities said they aren’t able to provide more information on what led to the shooting at this time.
The Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office states the incident has highlighted two concerns: deficiencies in the jail’s infrastructure in need of updates and repairs and that Butler was unaccounted for for five days. They state the issue is now the subject of an independent investigation by an outside agency.
Okfuskee County Sheriff Logan Manshack says he has started corrective actions to address the issues found in the jail.
