An inmate housed in a minimum-security Tucson prison escaped early Saturday morning, according to Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry.
During a routine 4 a.m. check in the Whetstone Unit of the Arizona State Prison Complex, security staff discovered that inmate Elijah Palmer was missing.
Palmer was classified as a “minimum custody risk,” a designation for inmates considered low risk to the public and staff. According to the Arizona Department of Corrections, these inmates are permitted to work outside the secure perimeter, including on community work crews, and do not require controlled movement within the facility.
ASPC- Tucson staff, the Department of Public Safety, and local law enforcement are collaborating in the search for Palmer.
Palmer was sentenced for the unlawful use of means of transportation on August 06, 2024, with a projected eligible release date of May 12, 2025.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Inmate who escaped Tucson prison Saturday had few months until release