Prison escapee found in ceiling ducts
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - An inmate of theMiddlesex CountyAdult Corrections Center who was reported missing last week was found in the ductwork of the ceiling on Feb. 21

Timothy Petties, 20, wentmissing on Feb. 19, according to Warden Edmond C. Cicchi. He was located at 7:05 a.m. Feb. 21 and was taken to an area hospital for evaluation.

Corrections officers used a thermal imaging camera to search a system of ductwork and pipes between the jail's ceiling and roof once theywere notified of themissing inmate, according to a release from the warden's office.

Because ofwhere the inmatewas located, he was extracted through the roof. Corrections officers removed a part of a secure ventilation hatch fromabove in order to pull him through, the release said.

The county prosecutor's office and local law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation outside the jail. However, the release said the jail's exterior security permiter was never breached.

Officials are investigating howPettieswas able to maneuver into the space, and are reviewing security measures.

Petties is in custody at the facility and has officially been charged with escaping, which carries a bail amount of $75,000 on that charge alone, according to Sgt. Robert Grover Jr., of the Correction Center.

Petties has been incarcerated since Jan. 17 on charges of aggravated assault.Grover said he is awaiting trial or disposition of those charges.