A local man apparently pulling a prank while posing as a jail inmate temporarily became a real one late last Tuesday, after eventually being found and charged by local police.

Jedediah Chriswell, 21, of Albany, was officially charged with disorderly conduct and second degree wanton endangerment, both misdemeanors, and led law enforcement on a continued investigation into possible stolen signs in an incident that occurred last Tuesday, August 30.

The suspect was officially charged by Albany Police Officer Brad Cross, who along with Clinton County Sheriff Rick Riddle and two of his deputies responded to the complaint around 3:30 p.m. after several 911 calls went into local dispatch pertaining to what the public thought was an escaped jail inmate.

Sheriff Riddle said the 911 calls reported someone in an orange jump suit, resembling that of a jail inmate uniform, with handcuffs, was seen in the Save-A-Lot parking lot and heading toward Second Street in west Albany.

The sheriff said that he and officer Cross arrived in the vicinity about the same time and upon investigation it was learned the suspect, had entered a residence on Cedar Street.

Apparently different witnesses reported seeing the man and thought he was a possible jail escapee due to his clothing and handcuffs.

Sheriff Riddle said the suspect later confessed to “playing a prank” using a Halloween costume (jail jump suit) and fake handcuffs, which the sheriff described as ‘toy’ handcuffs. He also said some witnesses had seen the suspect looking around and laughing while playing the “prank.”

Once at the Cedar Street residence, there were three individuals at the home, including the suspect. Authorities were given permission to search the residence and some signs, including a “slow” for funeral sign from a local funeral home and three road signs were found in a bedroom of the residence.

Although most of the confusion and fear among area residents of a possible escape jail inmate took place around the Save-A-Lot and west Albany area, Sheriff Riddle said the prank actually began in south Albany earlier in the afternoon.

Riddle said the suspect had run across the road in front of a vehicle and had been “bumped” by the vehicle which had to make a sudden stop to try and avoid hitting the pedestrian. Apparently this didn’t deter the suspect as he kept mobile on foot. It isn’t clear how the suspect got from the south to west Albany area.

The sheriff said Chriswell was charged with disorderly conduct due to the prank and for wanton endangerment relating to when he ran in front of the vehicle, causing the driver to have to make a sudden stop, it endangered not only the suspect himself, but anyone (in another vehicle) who may have been driving behind the motorist that struck Chriswell.

No arrests have been made in connection with the signs that were discovered at the residence. However, the sheriff noted the situation, which is being led by Officer Cross, is still being investigated and charges are likely pending in that case.

Although the entire ordeal was meant for a “prank,” it was not amusing to law enforcement officers or the general public who witnessed the goings on, according to Sheriff Riddle.

The sheriff said the prank, which had people believing that a jail escapee was on the loose in the neighborhood, caused fear among some residents. He said that people in the neighborhood had locked their doors and some had even armed themselves out of fear for their own or their families’ safety.

Fortunately, no injuries resulted from the incident.

Chriswell was lodged in Clinton County Jail on the aforementioned charges and later released on bond pending a court date.

Officer Cross and Sheriff Riddle were assisted at the scene of the incident by deputies Dustin Lowhorn and David Beasley. The investigation into both incidents remain under investigation by Albany Police Department and Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.

Clinton County Sherifff Rick Riddle, right, and Deputy David Beasley return to their cruisers after a search ended for a man posing as an escaped jail inmate. The search also resulted in the discovery of stolen road signs.