Grand jury awaits man accused of helping inmate escape

From The Times Tribune -

Davin Mills - CCDC

A Girdler man accused of helping a Knox County inmate escape before leading police on a vehicle pursuit earlier this month will have his case presented to a Knox County grand jury following a preliminary hearing Tuesday March 26, 2019.

Devin Mills, 22, appeared in Knox District Court for the hearing, where the investigating officer could have provided testimony and additional information to the court concerning the alleged incident, though Mills’ attorney elected to waive the hearing, sending the case straight to a grand jury. Prosecutors will now present evidence to the grand jury in an attempt to indict Mills on his charges.

Mills was instructed to return to court April 26 to see if he is indicted.

On March 15, police attempted to perform a traffic stop on South Main Street in Barbourville, but the vehicle allegedly did not stop, instead speeding away onto Edgewood Drive. The vehicle continued onto KY-11 and then KY-1809 before finally turning onto KY-92 toward Bell County.

The driver, identified as Mills, soon lost control of the vehicle in a curve, striking an embankment and causing the vehicle to overturn.

Police determined the vehicle’s passenger, identified as Bobby James Hamilton, 37, was a Knox County Detention Center inmate who had just escaped from the jail. He was taken to Barbourville ARH for treatment and then placed back in custody once released.

Mills was arrested and charged with first-degree fleeing and evading police, first-degree wanton endangerment, second-degree escape and driving while under the influence.

Hamilton was indicted last week in connection to the incident, being formally charged with second-degree escape, first-degree fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest, first-degree disorderly conduct and first-degree persistent felony offender.

Mills currently remains jailed in the Clay County Detention Center.