Inmate captured after jailbreak

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

A Clarendon man is being held under maximum security this week after escaping from the Donley County Jail and leading lawmen on a chase into Pampa last week.

Torrence Eugene Smith (a.k.a. Torrence Brown), age 40, was schedule to be arraigned this week on a first degree felony escape charge as well as unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said Smith overpowered a jailer, threw her down, took her keys, locked her in the jail, and then stole her car.

During the assault, the jailer was able to activate her panic button which alerted the sheriff and deputies that assistance was needed. Blackburn said the panic system has been activated in the past, usually by accident. But he realized immediately that this time was different.

“I knew when she didn’t answer the radio that we had a problem and that it was probably Torrence,” Blackburn said.

Smith had already run from lawmen when they tried to arrest him last month for seven counts of forgery. He got away that time but was subsequently picked up on February 18 with the additional charge of evading arrest.

After the escape, the jailer soon found her radio that had been lost when Smith attacked her and radioed that she was okay and that Smith was in her silver Pontiac Grand Am. Deputies Robert Douglas and Sonny Morasco and Sheriff Blackburn arrived at the jail as all available lawmen began watching for the escapee.

“We were very fortunate that it happened that there was an officer in every direction from Clarendon, and neighboring counties began watching the major highways immediately,” Blackburn said.

Paramedic and part-time jailer Heather King met a silver Grand Am going north on State Highway 70 at the Salt Fork Bridge, and the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department stationed at Rick Husband Blvd. on Hwy. 70 confirmed that same car was being driven by a man matching Smith’s description.

A Gray County deputy then met Smith near Jericho, and Blackburn said the chase officially started at that time with Smith running up to 105 mph.

Gray County officials tried to spike Smith’s vehicle twice on Hwy. 70 between I-40 and Pampa, but he avoided the spikes both times and entered the City of Pampa at speeds of 85 to 90 mph in town. Pampa Police, Gray County deputies, and Donley County officers were all in pursuit as Smith went onto side streets with what Blackburn described as a “total disregard for human safety.”

“There were people in their yards and children playing,” the sheriff said. “Someone could have been hurt or killed.”

Blackburn said Donley County Deputy Morasco had previously worked in Pampa; was familiar with the streets there; and when radio traffic said Smith had gone down a particular alley, the deputy knew just where he would be coming out. Smith tried to avoid the deputy, but Morasco rammed his patrol truck into the subject’s vehicle, pinning it to the curb. He then subdued the escapee who attempted to flee on foot.

“Deputy Morasco did an excellent job of ending the pursuit,” Blackburn said. “No bystanders got hurt, and no cars were wrecked other than what should have.”

Smith was treated for minor injuries at a Pampa hospital before being transported back to the Donley County Jail.

Blackburn said Smith is now not allowed out of his cell unless escorted by two law enforcement officials and he will continue to be held under maximum security conditions and considered a high escape risk for the duration of his stay in the Donley County Jail.