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Jail Break Puts Spotlight On Hoke County, Sheriff Department

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HOKE COUNTY — Two escapees from the Hoke County jail are now in custody. The jail break is just the latest scar among a history of old wounds for residents.

Rick and Bobbie Branch live the simple life. They tend to their own yard and grow their own vegetables. For the past 11 years, they have been proud to callHoke Countyhome.

"It is the greatest place in the world to live," Bobbie says. "I love it. I really do."

Bobbie is not happy about the attention Hoke County has been getting, specifically from the sheriff department.

"It seems like every time I pick up the paper here lately, something has gone wrong again," Bobbie says.

Sheriff Jim Davis says Hoke County is a microcosm of what is happening in the country.

"We are experiencing some situations that have been experienced in other jurisdictions," Davis says.

A string of events have state, local and federal agencies calling for an investigation. One of the incidents involve a former chief jailer, who Davis says, released one inmate early from a county jail.

"Some of the concerns are around staff. The investigations are ongoing," Davis says.

Bobbie hopes everything works out so people will know the county she has grown to love.

"We have some things going on, but I think every town has its bad side," Bobbie says.

Mario Dockery and Markeith Jackson, both 18, escaped Wednesday night by assaulting a guard.

Deputies caught Jackson in Fayetteville late Thursday night in a house off Hope Mills road.

Davis says Jackson was driving a vehicle stolen from Raeford Thursday morning. After Jackson wrecked the vehicle, he and Dockery fled into some nearby woods, where Jackson was captured.

Dockery was captured at 12:30 p.m. Friday on Highway 211 near Aberdeen. Deputies say his parents convinced him to turn himself in.

Both men were in jail for stealing cars.

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