Inmate at South Carolina jail uses pencil to escape jail

CHESTERFIELD, S.C. (CBS, KYMA) - An inmate at a South Carolina jail used a pencil to escape from his cell earlier this month, according to officials.

The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) first announced that an inmate, later identified as Charles Alexander Dieterich, had escaped from his cell at the Chesterfield County Detention Center in Chesterfield, South Carolina on September 1.

Dieterich was quickly located and taken back into custody by deputies that day, CCSO said.

Officials said the cell was in a part of the detention center that was constructed in 1972.

In an update on the escape, CCSO said that Dieterich escaped after he put a pencil in the locking mechanism of his cell, which let him slide the door open and escape.

"The door and locking mechanism remain functional and properly secure the housing area when operated normally," the sheriff said. "The issue occurs when the door and locking mechanism are intentionally manipulated in this manner."

From the cell, the sheriff said that Dieterich went through the kitchen and walked outside using an unlocked door that jail trustees on kitchen duty and kitchen staff use to take out the trash.

"After exiting the building, Dieterich entered a secured area surrounded by fencing and barbed wire," the sheriff said. "Dieterich scaled the fence and barbed wire, sustaining cuts during the escape."

The sheriff said that deputies were able to track Dieterich down on a nearby road about 30 minutes after he left his cell.

He was detained, brought to the hospital for his injuries from the barbed wire fence, and later discharged to the Chesterfield County Detention Center again.

According to CCSO, the area where Dieterich escaped "will remain under direct supervision until the door and locking mechanism are further evaluated."