Palatka, FL – An inmate who allegedly attacked a corrections deputy and escaped custody Thursday morning was back in the Putnam County Jail within an hour after a multi-agency search placed parts of Palatka on lockdown.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Eddie Tripp — who previously faced charges including aggravated battery, kidnapping, battery, and drug possession — was being escorted to a medical appointment for an acute foot fracture when he allegedly assaulted a deputy and ran. Officials said Tripp had been using a walker and was handcuffed to it at the time of the appointment.
After the exam, Tripp reportedly complained the cuffs were painful. When the deputy briefly removed the restraints to adjust them, Tripp allegedly body-slammed the deputy and fled the building. Despite the foot fracture, deputies say Tripp sprinted nearly 900 yards toward the Forest Glen Apartments area.
Due to Tripp’s violent history, the deputy fired one shot during the chase but stopped when he no longer had a clear line of sight. Multiple agencies joined the response, including SWAT, aviation units, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and Palatka Police Department.
Officials said a Clay County K9 located Tripp in a wooded area northeast of the hospital, where the dog bit him before he was taken into custody. Tripp was treated at the ER, medically cleared, and returned to jail with additional escape charges and no bond.
The chase forced temporary lockdowns at nearby schools and businesses and shut down St. Johns Avenue during the search. The deputy sustained minor scrapes and bruises.
Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach said Tripp is “a well-seasoned convict” and expects the new charges to add years to his sentence.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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