The Georgia Department of Corrections inmate who stole a motor grader and fled over 100 miles in southeast Georgia while out on a work detail has been moved to a new GDC facility.
Richard Bruce Salyer fled from a work detail at the Jefferson County Correctional Institution on October 27, taking with him a rather pricey piece of equipment: the county motor grader. He traveled 116 miles to Bloomingdale in Chatham County where he dumped the equipment behind a church after a little more than a week. He ultimately was captured by Pooler PD – also in Chatham County – two weeks after he left the facility in Jefferson County. GDC never published that they were searching for him or that they had a missing inmate.
After his arrest in Pooler, Salyer was taken to Coastal State Prison in Savannah and awaited pickup by GDC for transfer. He was ultimately transferred some 235 miles away to Hays State Prison in Chattooga County. But despite his max out release date of December 19, 2023, Salyer is now facing additional charges in Jefferson County (for his escape) and in Pooler.
When he was arrested, Salyer was wearing a red Georgia Bulldogs tshirt and plainclothes and shoes. Also in his possession, according to public records obtained from Pooler PD, Salyer had a 9mm Glock 17 firearm, two boxes of ammunition, several sets of keys, two Amazon packages, and a Georgia license belonging to another individual.
In Pooler, Salyer faces charges for
- Obstructing or Hindering Law Enforcement
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- Possession of Stolen Property
- Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Felony)
His court date is in February 2024.
Facility Changes
Jefferson County Correctional Institution (JCCI) is a medium level facility which houses both felony and misdemeanor offenders while Hays State Prison is a ‘close security’ facility while JCCI is a medium level facility.
From GDC:
Close security facility serving the Department through housing and managing some of the state’s most challenging offenders. Provides offender population with a variety of structured programs intended to minimize recidivism and initiate an effective re-entry program. Houses a Faith & Character based dormitory and serves as the host facility for the Paulding Residential Substance Abuse Treatment. This is a Tier I, II & STEP Down facility.
JCCI – Provides labor for county maintenance, trash & landfill duties and construction detail; Provide housing for state and county offenders and a general labor force supporting Jefferson County Government.
Ties to Other Counties in Southeast Georgia
Salyer has a criminal history with a record in Toombs County, Montgomery County, and Effingham County.
Effingham County 2021Â
Theft by Taking – Felony (3x), Possession of Hydrocodone, Possession of Ambien, Possession of Seroquel, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
Toombs County – 2002Â
Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, Arson (1st degree), Fleeing, DUI, Reckless Driving, and three misdemeanor traffic offenses Â
Sentenced to 10 years
Montgomery County – 2002
Burglary
Sentenced to 10 years
For the Toombs and Montgomery county offenses, Salyer served from October 17, 2002 until July 12, 2010. He was reincarcerated in December 2012 until February 7, 2012. He was again released and reincarcerated on April 10, 2012 before his release in October 2012. Salyer was not in a GDC facility for ten years, but re-entered a facility in April 2023. He was supposed to be released on December 19, 2023.
As I read about the escapade of Richard Bruce Salyer, an inmate who made a daring escape while out on a work detail, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of shock and intrigue. The audacity of his actions, from stealing a motor grader to traveling over 100 miles before ultimately being captured, is both captivating and concerning.