Baker County inmate escapes jail by covering himself in trash

The Baker County Sheriff’s Office said an inmate is back in the county jail after he escaped by hiding in a trash carrier.

Deputies said 26-year-old Dakota Carter escaped Sunday around 8 p.m.

He was in jail on charges including armed burglary, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, meth, drug paraphernalia, grand theft and grand theft of a firearm.

Carter worked in the kitchen as a cook. Deputies said he got into a trash carrier and covered himself in trash to be wheeled out of the jail.

“At the end of the day, they clean up and the trash gets thrown into a barrel, and he was in the bottom of that and then got pushed outside the facility,” said BCSO Maj. Randy Crews.

A food contractor took out the trash. Deputies said they're investigating if the contractor was involved in Carter's escape.

Either way, deputies said that contractor has been fired.

Carter met his girlfriend, Baylee Barber, at Dollar General after the escape. She drove him to Georgia, where deputies arrested him in Echols County.

Barber is facing charges for helping Carter escape.

A BCSO spokesperson said Carter had a court date this week and may have escaped because he learned he was going to prison for a long time if convicted.

Deputies said they became aware of Carter's escape about an hour after he left the jail. He was gone for approximately 12 hours, causing concern.

“There’s a lot of children around in the area, and people that are desperate to escape through the trash may do something desperate to a homeowner, or someone’s child, you never know,” said Celeste Daniels.

The department is looking into policies and procedures at the jail.

Cox Media Group