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Memphis Commerical Appeal

An escapee called 911 Sunday after getting lost in the woods near West Tennessee State Penitentiary at Henning.

Trusty Bruce Price of Bedford County was supposed to be working on the prison's farm when he left, said Dorinda Carter, spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

"An escapee called 911 Sunday after getting lost in the woods near West Tennessee State Penitentiary at Henning. Trusty Bruce Price of Bedford County was supposed to be working on the prison's farm when he left," said Dorinda Carter, spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

He picked up contraband -- two cell phones, six pounds of tobacco and a bottle of whisky -- which authorities believe had been placed in the woods by someone else for the trusty.

He tried to return to the prison when he lost his bearings, Carter said. So he used a cell phone to call for help.

"He told them he wasn't planning to escape, but got lost in the woods," Carter said. The Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department obliged him.

The flee-and-plea lasted about 105 minutes; he was rescued/caught at 12:30 p.m. He'll be charged with escape.

Price, sentenced to five years for theft over $1,000, had been scheduled to go before the Parole Board on Wednesday.

He could have enjoyed an early release for what had been good behavior.