Spartanburg inmate makes brief escape

Suspect who hid in trash bin runs from officers for second time this week

Burglary suspect Timothy Jerome Sanders wasn't done running from police after his arrest earlier this week.

Sanders, 36, of 205 Idlewood Circle, was arrested Tuesday night after he ran from police and hid in a trash bin following a burglary at Home Express on Asheville Highway.

Spartanburg County Detention Center director Larry Powers said Sanders, who was charged with burglary and petit larceny Tuesday, was taken to court on Friday for a hearing related to the charges.

When Sanders and other inmates were brought back to the detention center, Sanders escaped through a back gate at the jail. Powers said the jail's salley port gates are inoperable right now, so they were open when Sanders made his attempted escape.

Sanders, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, leg and wrist shackles, slipped past a guard unnoticed but other inmates alerted her to Sanders' escape.

Spartanburg County deputies found Sanders a short time later on Howard Street, Powers said.

The guard's actions are being reviewed "as to whether any disciplinary action will be taken," Powers said.

The salley port gates are slated for replacement within the next 90 days, Powers said.

In Tuesday night's incident, a Wofford College police officer on his way to work witnessed a person kicking a window at Home Express about 10:30 p.m. The officer turned around and saw a man following behind a SUV pulling away from a business with a man following behind carrying a large item.

Spartanburg Public Safety Department officers found the SUV a short time later at a gas station on Henry Street. The driver, Troy Douglas Adams, 45, of 2479 Country Club Road, Apt. 1300D, stayed with officers but Sanders ran. Officers found him a short time later in a nearby trash bin, according to an incident report.

Officers said a 50-inch flat screen TV had been stolen during the burglary.

Sanders' bond on the burglary and theft charges has been set at $25,000. It was not known Friday afternoon if he would face additional charges in the escape attempt.