Sheriff: Trusty Caught after Walking Away from Facility

TYLER — A Smith County jail inmate has lost his trusty status after walking away from a county facility and then being caught, according to Sheriff Larry Smith. Smith says around 10:30 Friday morning, 42-year-old Shawn Lynn Grossman escaped from custody from the Smith County Animal Shelter (12828 FM 3311), where he was assigned as a trusty. Grossman was in the custody of the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office, which oversees the facility. According to Smith, Grossman was picked up by his girlfriend, Amanda Brownlee, outside the facility, and both fled in a vehicle. Grossman had been a trusty for over a month. Jail trusties have been utilized at the animal control facility for several years to perform duties such as cleaning and feeding the dogs.

Once the Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Fire Marshal’s office of the escape, multiple units responded to the Animal Control Facility and began searching for Grossman. Area law enforcement agencies were also notified of the incident. Grossman and his girlfriend were taken into custody by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force. The Henderson County authorities recognized the vehicle description as having just passed a location where they were conducting an unrelated search warrant. They then began a search of the area and located Grossman and his girlfriend in the Sunrise Shores addition on Lake Palestine in Henderson County, according to Smith. They were taken into custody at 12:00 noon.

Grossman was transported back to the Smith County Jail by Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies, where he is being housed in the maximum risk facility. Smith sayas his trusty status has been permanently suspended. Amanda Brownlee will be charged with facilitating escape. A warrant was being secured for Brownlee as of late Friday afternoon. Further details will be released as they become available, according to Smith.