MONTICELLO – Two inmates are on the loose after assaulting ajailer and escaping from the Lawrence County Jail Sunday night,authorities said.

A release from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department saidAaron Smith, 24, a 5-foot 11-inch black male weighing approximately300 pounds, and David Sanchez, 20, a 5-foot 9-inch white maleapproximately 120 pounds, left the jail after the assault. Theyestimate the escape occurred around 9:45 p.m. Sunday.

Officials said Smith was serving time for aggravated assault andSanchez was jailed on charges of burglary. Both men are originallyfrom Lawrence County, but no addresses were available, jailofficials said.

Lawrence County Sheriff Joel Thames said his office is notlisting them as armed and dangerous.

“Not at this time,” he said. “They didn’t leave here armed, sounless they picked up a weapon when they got out, they’re not.”

Thames said while both men were from Lawrence County, there isreason to think at least one of them might try to flee thecounty.

“Sanchez, I feel like he might try to get out as fast aspossible,” he said.

The jailer, whose name was not released, was taken to thehospital where he was treated for a broken nose and released.

Meanwhile, Thames said a break-in on Timberlane Road inMonticello, in which a purse and a 2001 green Honda vehicle weretaken, could potentially be tied to the escapees. The stolenvehicle bears the license number LWB 855. A spokesman from thesheriff’s department said there is a likelihood that the escapeescould be familiar with the neighborhood from where the car wasstolen.

Sheriff’s department officials are asking the public to keeptheir eyes open for the escapees, and anyone coming into contactwith them or the stolen vehicle should contact the department at(601) 587-2961.