WINCHESTER, Tenn. – On the evening of November 20, 2024, a coordinated manhunt was launched after inmate Tony Jameson Sweeton escaped custody during transport near the intersection of Highway 127 and Wattendorf Highway at the Franklin and Coffee County line. Sweeton, 23, fled from a transport vehicle at approximately 8:27 PM while handcuffed.
Sweeton, a Coffee County inmate, had been transported to Franklin County earlier in the day for a Circuit Court appearance related to a statutory rape charge. He escaped while en route back to Coffee County custody. Law enforcement agencies, including deputies from both counties, Tullahoma and Manchester police, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and Arnold Air Force Base Police, have established a perimeter around a wooded area west of the escape location.
Sweeton is described as a 5’7” white male weighing 155 pounds, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and distinctive face and neck tattoos. At the time of his escape, he was wearing a white t-shirt and black-and-white striped pants.
Authorities report Sweeton has a lengthy record of offenses, including aggravated assault, assault on first responders, theft, domestic violence, and multiple probation violations. His recent charges include statutory rape, for which he appeared in court earlier that day.
Sheriff Tim Fuller of Franklin County is collaborating with Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin in the search effort. Residents near Winchester Highway and Millers Crossroads are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
Contact Information:
- Coffee County Dispatch: 931-728-9555
- Franklin County Consolidated Communications Center: 931-967-2331
Updates on the situation will be provided as they become available. Authorities are asking the public to share this information widely to ensure the fugitive is quickly located and apprehended.
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