Clay County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted in the recapture of an escaped prisoner from the Clinton County Jail in Plattsburg on Friday, April 16.

In an effort to prevent situations like this in the future, we continue to update our jail protocols and make necessary modifications to ensure all detention equipment and devices are operating correctly - Clinton County Sheriff Larry Fish

Jason Hale escaped the Clinton County jail sometime around midnight Friday morning after his cell door failed to latch correctly, according to a statement released by Clinton County Sheriff Larry Fish.

Clay County Deputies found Hale about six hours later in the area of Missouri Highway 92 and Highway C, and were able to recapture Hale at about 6:00 am.

Hale was then returned to the custody of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.

Hale was originally being held at the jail awaiting a hearing for tampering with a motor vehicle. He will now be charged with escape.

“In an effort to prevent situations like this in the future, we continue to update our jail protocols and make necessary modifications to ensure all detention equipment and devices are operating correctly,” Sheriff Fish stated.

The investigation into the incident is on-going.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story