Former Deputy Jailer Arrested for Aiding Escape

Ronnie Hunt, a former deputy jailer in Mississippi, has been arrested and charged with aiding the escape of inmate Joshua Zimmerman. Hunt is accused of providing Zimmerman with tools necessary for his escape from the DeSoto County Courthouse, where Zimmerman was awaiting trial for attempted murder and armed robbery. Zimmerman, who also faces murder charges in Houston, managed to flee to Chicago and was captured after a 15-hour standoff near the Democratic National Convention. Surveillance footage showed Zimmerman in street clothes, raising suspicions of internal assistance. Hunt has been fired and additional charges against him are likely. The incident has prompted investigations into the security protocols at the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department and the deletion of video footage related to Zimmerman's escape.