Austin Tyrone Gambler

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Austin Gambler, 18, shown with addresses of 1500 Mill Road, Fort Wayne, and 179 Hickary Place, Buckhead, Ga., has been charged with escape, a level 5 felony. He was booked in the county jail at 11:43 a.m. Friday, May 20.

Court documents state May 1, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department responded to an escape at Pierceton Woods Academy. Officer Kraig Kuhn spoke with a staff member who reported Gambler was placed at the academy Aug. 10, 2015, by the Indiana Department of Corrections. His release date was approximately four months away.

The staff member stated he was supervising Gambler and another inmate when Gambler fled from him and escaped into the woods. An inmate told police he and Gambler planned to escape and made weapons from sticks and metal from a three-ring binder case in the event staff attempted to stop them. The one inmate decided not to escape.

Gambler was not immediately located by police.

Gambler is being held on $10,000 surety and $250 cash bond.