Kentucky State Police Investigates Escape of an Inmate and Assault on Deputy Jailers
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (October 6, 2026) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 11 London is investigating the escape of an inmate and the assault on deputy jailers that took place in the process of that escape.
On October 4, 2026, at around 11 p.m. EST, KSP Post 11 London received a call from Whitley County 911 advising that several inmates had taken control of the jail, several deputy jailers were injured, and that an inmate, Charles Blake Randle, 42 years old, of Springfield, KY, had escaped from the jail.
Upon the arrival of Troopers, they were able to resecure the integrity of the facility with the help of staff and other local law enforcement. Preliminary investigation has determined that while a deputy jailer was patrolling the inside of the cells, 4 inmates, James Fields, 55 years old, of Ashcamp, KY, Roy Cox, 19 years old, of Corbin, KY, Anthony Tucker, 45 years old, of Corbin, KY, and Mr. Charles B. Randle, waited for the door to open, at which time they caught and held the door open to escape. Three of those inmates, Charles Randle, Roy Cox, and James Fields, went out of their cell and into the control room of the jail facility. While in the control room, the three men attacked several deputy jailers, causing serious injuries to one deputy jailer’s head by striking him with a mop bucket, stabbing another deputy jailer with a pencil, and deploying OC spray into the face of a third. Charles Randle was then able to leave the jail facility.
Charles Randle remained on the run until October 5, 2026, around 11 p.m., when he was located by KSP Troopers.
Roy Cox and James Fields were all charged with 3 counts of Assault 1st Degree- Police Officer, 3 counts of Attempted Murder 1st Degree, and one count of Attempted Escape 1st Degree. Anthony Tucker has been charged with 3 counts of Complicity to Commit Assault 1st Degree- Police Officer, 3 counts of Complicity to Commit Attempted Murder 1st Degree, and one count of Attempted Escape 1st Degree. Charles Randle has been charged with 3 counts of Assault 1st Degree- Police Officer, 3 counts of Attempted Murder 1st Degree, and one count of Escape 1st Degree.
The deputy jailers who were injured during the assault were transported to Baptist Health in Corbin and the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital by Whitley County EMS for their injuries, where they were treated and later released.
This case remains under investigation by Trooper Matt Ridener. He was assisted on scene by KSP Personnel, Whitley County Sheriff’s Office, Williamsburg Police Department, Corbin Police Department, Whitley County Detention Center, Whitley
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