Phillip Bradford has been on the run since Wednesday around 4 p.m.
The inmate managed to escape from a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
On Thursday, Sgt. Adam Clark with the Cullman Police Department said he was spotted in Cullman with an unknown woman.
Clark said he stole a silver 2004 GMC Envoy with a red diving sticker on the back glass.
The theft occurred in the Walmart parking lot located on Olive Street.
We started asking questions to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office on Thursday after seeing video that doesn't quite match the description of Bradford's escape.
The description provided stated that Bradford overpowered the deputy.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office released an updated statement Friday just after 4 p.m.
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy was in the process of transporting a prisoner from UAB Hospital back to the Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham. The inmate was able to escape from the transporting Deputy, gain control of an unoccupied ambulance and flee the area. In an effort to get information regarding the identification of the inmate to the public in a timely manner, it was initially thought that the inmate had “overpowered” the deputy during the transport. We have been focusing on locating this subject and bringing him back into custody, however, we are also investigating how this inmate was able to escape. This is still an active investigation, however, we have concerns as to the whether the deputy properly handled the inmate during transportation. We have received video that appears to show activity that is not consistent with the training provided to our personnel. An in-depth investigation into all aspects of this escape is being conducted and appropriate action will be taken upon the conclusion.
We have seen the video, but have not officially obtained it.
This is what it shows:
- The video is recorded inside the UAB ambulance bay.
- You can see a single deputy escorting a shackled inmate on foot
- The inmate then bumps the deputy and then walks 10 to 15 feet to a parked ambulance
- The deputy is slow to react
- Only after the inmate is in the process of entering the ambulance does the deputy move
- He gets to the ambulance after the driver door closes
- The video shows deputy trying to open the door but he bumped off the ambulance as it pulls out and drives away
The sheriff's office declined to answer our questions Thursday, so we tried again on Friday.
Neither Sheriff Mark Pettway nor any other ranking deputy in the office was available.
Our questions are related to specific policy within the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office regarding prisoner transport.
That question not only relating to the events seen in the video, we are still attempting to get our hands on to show you, but also Phillip Bradford's history with law enforcement.
Bradford has multiple incidents with police. He has an escape second degree on his record dating back to 1999 in Talladega County.
In 2013 and 2019 Bradford was charged with attempting to elude during traffic stops, and in one of those cases charged with resisting arrest.
ABC 33/40's Valerie Bell has filed public records requests for both the video and prisoner transport procedures so the public can better understand if the escape could have been prevented or if a change in policy is warranted.
If the deputy was not following policy, we asked the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office what disciplinary actions, if any, are being taken.