Tweedel

Johnny Mac Brown

FRANKLIN COUNTY — The search by Franklin County officials for an escapee from Hays State Prison in Trion, Ga., continued Tuesday.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas, the search began Monday night after a woman called 911 and said she had been kidnapped Monday by one of the escapees.

"At about 8:30p.m. Monday night, Franklin County dispatch received a call from a white female stating she had been kidnapped by Johnny Mack Brown in Chattooga County, Ga.," Thomas said Tuesday. "She said he had released her and her car in the Fairview Community of Franklin County near (Ga.) 59. He does have family in the area.”

Tony Brown, Johnny Brown’s brother and a Franklin County resident, was arrested after he told authorities he had not seen Johnny Brown, Thomas said. Then after sitting in jail for several hours, Tony Brown told authorities he had seen his brother on Monday night and had provided food to his brother then told him to leave.

Tony Brown was charged with obstruction Tuesday, Thomas said.

Franklin County sheriff's deputies and agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, K-9 units, a Marshal's Office Fugitive Squad, the Georgia Department of Corrections and the aviation unit from the Georgia State Patrol searched the area all Monday night as well. The search continued as of 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thomas said.

Officials also have interviewed Johnny Brown's father, who denies any knowledge of his son's whereabouts, Thomas said.

Johnny Brown and fellow inmate Michael Tweedel, 48, escaped from Hays State Prison in Chattooga County on Oct. 15, officials said. The victim who called authorities Monday told officials Brown acted alone. Tweedel's whereabouts are unknown. Thomas said the search continued Tuesday, but authorities believe Brown may have secured a ride out of the county.

Brown is serving a life sentence for armed robbery, hijacking, theft and aggravated assault and battery.

In December 1997, Brown shot an armored car guard three times in the chest and fired at others during an armed robbery at a former Wal-Mart in a shopping center west of Athens. He later was convicted in relation to the incidents.

Brown stole $183,000 worth of cash and checks and got away in a hijacked car, but was arrested soon after and later convicted.

Brown, 53, later escaped from Clarke County Jail in September 1998 and was recaptured in Florida, but not before committing crimes in three states — Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina — of which he was subsequently convicted.

He is described as a white male, 5-foot-8 inches tall, 160 pounds with salt-and-pepper, short hair. He is reported to have been wearing glasses with gray sweat pants, red shirt and a gray overcoat.

Brown is armed and considered dangerous.

Anyone with information regarding Brown's whereabouts is asked to call 911.