Police are searching for a Cache County inmate who walked away from custody last week during a work release assignment.
Derek Grant Parkinson, 49, absconded from the jail early Friday morning. On Wednesday — five days later — the county sheriff’s office sent out a news release saying that he has not yet returned.
Parkinson was ordered to serve time after he was charged in July and pleaded guilty to a felony for possession or use of a controlled substance, as well as two misdemeanor counts for reckless endangerment and reckless burning that endangered a human life. Since he left last week, he has also been charged with a third degree felony for escaping from official custody and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 435-755-1151 or 911. Residents are asked not to approach Parkinson if they see him.
A court affidavit noted that Parkinson never showed up for his job at a welding company in Cove on Friday. He was assigned to be there at 6 a.m. and return to jail by 6 p.m.
He is described as being 5 feet, 9 inches tall and 160 pounds. Parkinson is white with blond hair and blue eyes. He was last living in Richmond. And he is likely driving a black Volkswagen Jetta, according to the news release.
Jail staff said he was last seen wearing sneakers, a red T-shirt, jeans and a green or camouflage hat.
Parkinson has been in and out of jail with a criminal history dating back to 1998. He has previously pleaded guilty to various drug and alcohol charges in both Cache and Weber counties. And he was injured in 2017 while mixing black powder for homemade fireworks.
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