TAVARES, Fla. — WFTV learned a deputy who was supervising a jail inmate when she escaped from a Florida hospital last month is back on the same job detail.
The deputy, whose name hasn’t been released, was supposed to be watching Miranda Backus at the time of the escape. Instead, the deputy was filling out paperwork, and Backus ran out through a loading dock door at a hospital in Tavares.
Channel 9’s Berndt Petersen found out the deputy is still guarding inmates at the hospital, and the Sheriff’s Office is defending the decision, saying because of the attempted escape, the deputy is one of the most security-conscious officers they have right now.
“This employee has been here for eight years, and she has a great track record other than that one incident a couple of weeks ago,” said Lt. John Herrell. “And I will tell you that she has learned from that incident."
In last month’s escape, Backus got as far as the parking lot, flagged down a car and tried to talk an elderly couple into a ride. But security video shows the detention deputy was in hot pursuit, 40 seconds behind the suspect.
“She was right behind her,” said Herrell. “And that’s the only reason she was as far ahead of her as she was. So, in the grand scheme of things, although the inmate tried to get away from her, the detention deputy caught her."
The Sheriff’s Office won’t release the deputy’s name because of an internal investigation, but they did say they’ve never had to take disciplinary action against her.
WFTV
