PICKENS ─ Federal authorities have joined the manhunt for a county stockade inmate who escaped from work detail Tuesday morning.

David Jeremy LaTour, 30, who was serving a 12 month sentence for not paying child support, was serving on the recycling crew when he escaped, according to assistant county administrator Lynn Fisher, who is in charge of the county stockade program.

Fisher said LaTour was required to travel in the cab of the truck under close supervision, but when the supervisor got out of the truck to push a buzzer at the Six Mile Post Office, the inmate jumped from the cab and ran away.

So far, deputies with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office have found the orange shirt and jacket LaTour was wearing at the time of escape, he said.

Fisher also said LaTour has an outstanding federal weapons violation charge against him, which was discovered after a national background check.

The U.S. Marshals are helping in the search because of the pending federal charges.

An additional warrant for the escape has also been issued, according to Fisher.

Fisher said that it was routine to have inmates at the stockade work unless they are bed ridden, sick or confined for misbehavior.

LaTour was assigned to a job with the strictest supervision possible, Fisher said.

He is from the Pickens area and was not considered a flight risk, Fisher said.

However, Fisher said he believes the inmate had help making his escape.

The stockade typically has 60 to 70 inmates working each day, and the assistant administrator noted that employee supervisors do not carry weapons.

The stockade is a minimum security facility, and employee supervisors are discouraged from trying to apprehend an inmate if they attempt an escape, Fisher said.

Instead, they are directed to call 911 so men with badges and weapons can apprehend the escapee, Fisher said.

LaTour’s last known address was 234 Williams Drive, Pickens.

Deputies believe he is still in the area and may be getting assistance from acquaintances.

Sheriff C. David Stone warned that anyone who assists LaTour in any manner would be jailed and prosecuted for their actions.

Anyone who spots LaTour is asked to call either the Sheriff’s Office at (864) 898-5500 or Crimestoppers at 898—KOPS (5677), where they may be eligible for a cash reward for information leading to his arrest.