Authorities Searching For Escaped Inmate

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nashville authorities are searching for an inmate who escaped early Tuesday morning from jail.

Video: Escaped Inmate Has Long Arrest History

Rick Gentry, a spokesman for the Davidson County Sheriff's Office, said 31-year-old Joseph Bennett escaped from the Correctional Developmental Center around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Bennett, police said, works on a crew that prepares breakfast for the center’s more than 760 inmates. He was in the kitchen when he escaped, authorities said.

Police said he stole a U-Haul from the facility and drove it to the Interstate 24-Haywood Lane junction before leaving the vehicle there and probably fleeing on foot.

The kitchen work crew is periodically supervised by a sheriff’s deputy and two contract workers with the food service who help prepare breakfast, Channel 4’s Anne Marshall reported.

He is serving time for several charges of theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and evading arrest, though authorities said they don't consider him to be dangerous.

He has 24 total convictions and has been convicted of auto burglary and aggravated burglary.

The Correctional Developmental Center is run by the Davidson County Sheriff's Office.

A chief deputy said while the facility is minimum-security, the sheriff’s department is scrutinizing their policies and procedures to prevent any future escapes.