Jail Escapee Back in Custody

TYLER – A Smith County jail inmate had a brief taste of freedom Wednesday. He was recaptured northeast of the jail. Bob Lee Handy, 33, of Tyler, was being booked into the jail when he broke loose and ran. They were preparing to move him to a more secure area when he bolted through a door that had opened to bring another prisoner inside. Handy, who had his handcuffs removed, ran through the sally port and scaled a gate. He then jumped into a drainage ditch. He made it to Beckham Avenue where he was tackled by an officer. Handy, who was being booked into the jail on a felony felony theft of property charge, is also facing now an escape charge.