A Wesson man is back in custody today after escaping fromofficers Tuesday while en route to the Lincoln County Jail,according to authorities.

Javon Lee Banks, 20, of 3005 James Dr., Wesson, turned himselfin around 1 a.m. Wednesday after being on the run for about 12hours, said Brookhaven Police Chief Arlustra “Pap” Henderson.

Banks escaped while returning to the jail at 12:12 p.m. from theBrookhaven/Lincoln County Government Complex following hisarraignment in city court on aggravated assault and burglarycharges, said Henderson.

“The officers turned their back while putting their weapons awayin the sally port and he took off,” Henderson said.

Two Brookhaven police officers had escorted seven inmates fromthe courthouse to the jail. Banks, wearing handcuffs and a waistchain, was at the end of the line.

“There should have been an officer at the back of the line, butthere wasn’t, and we’ve corrected that,” Henderson said. “It won’thappen again.”

The officers were at the front of the line putting their weaponsinto a safe box because weapons are not allowed inside thejail.

Banks was out of sight before officers realized he had takenoff, and a direction of travel was unknown. Officers began combingthe area surrounding the jail, talking with residents and searchingunder houses, in bushes and inside sheds.

“Nobody saw him, so I went and talked with his mother. I toldher if he got in touch with her to tell him he needs to turnhimself in,” said Henderson. “Then at one o’clock this morning, hisuncle brought him to my house.”

Banks came to the door and Henderson called an on-duty officerto transport Banks back to the jail.

Banks was arrested Monday night on the aggravated assault andburglary charges following a dispute with a Brookhaven woman at herAdams Street home earlier in the day. The woman sustained some cutsin the knife attack but injuries were not life-threatening,authorities said.

Banks also had pleaded guilty to an unlawful possession ofmarijuana charge in May. He was placed on five years probationafter receiving a three-year suspended sentence on that charge.