A Dugger man, who escaped from the Greene County Work Release Center on Sept. 4, has been arrested in Greene County following a stint in the Knox County Jail on a warrant for auto theft. 

Philbert Wright, 31, escaped from the work release center in the morning hours of Sept. 4, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Greene County Sheriff’s Department Det. Shawn Cullison. Wright later stole a vehicle from the parking lot of Metal Technologies at knife-point and broke into two homes. He’s now facing charges of escape, a Level 5 Felony; burglary, a Level 4 Felony; theft where the defendant has a prior conviction for either theft or conversion, a Level 6 Felony, and armed robbery, a Level 3 Felony. 

He was arrested in Knox County in September on a warrant for auto theft. After serving time in jail in Vincennes, his case was dismissed on Nov 29.

Wright was convicted of robbery in Greene Circuit Court in June 2015 and sentenced to serve 17 and a half years in prison. In June 2023, according to the probable cause affidavit, the court ordered he could serve the remainder of his sentence on work release. According to personnel from the work release center, Wright had failed a drug test; therefore, a request was going to be made to have his sentence modified, sending him back to prison.

According to the probable cause affidavit, video footage showed Wright at his bunk collecting a bag, then running out a fire exit. The director of the work release center told Cullison Wright’s GPS monitoring bracelet was found, cut off, lying in the yard of a nearby residence. 

At approximately 12:26 p.m. on Sept. 4, a male contacted the Greene County Sheriff's Department stating a male subject  – later identified as Wright – had pulled a knife and demanded his car. The male alleged he was parked in the lot attempting to sleep because had a headache and didn’t feel like driving. According to the probable cause affidavit, the male said Wright first approached his 2007 white Saturn Ion and asked for a lighter. Later, Wright approached the vehicle again. This time, he had a knife. The male alleged Wright told him to get out of the car and threatened that if he called law enforcement, he would kill his entire family. The male got out of the vehicle, leaving his cell phone, wallet, and medication while Wright drove off. Later, the male’s cell phone was found on the ground by the roadway near the Metal Technologies parking lot. 

In the late evening hours of Sept. 5, the Greene County Sheriff’s Department was notified by the Vincennes Police Department that Wright had been located. According to the probable cause, the knife as well as the 2007 White Saturn Ion had also been located.

On Sept. 4, a male who lives a little more than half of a mile from Metal Technologies called the Sheriff’s Department to report a break-in. At that time, he did not believe anything was taken, but said it appeared someone had fallen into his pond as water-soaked boots and a wet towel were located in his garage. Two days later, the male called back stating he noticed a hat missing. The Australian style, brown leather hat, which came from Australia, had been in a closet. The hat was later located inside the car that Wright allegedly stole.

On Sept. 5 at approximately 10:07 p.m., the Greene County Sheriff’s Department was contacted by the Vincennes Police Department. According to the probable cause affidavit, they advised they’d located Wright and a white Saturn Ion. They also noted Wright had a knife on his person. 

Det. Cullison traveled to the Vincennes and met with Det. Doug Lowe who provided him with the knife that was confiscated from Wright. It was a metal folding knife with a green handle and had skulls on it. When looking at the car allegedly stolen by Wright, Cullison saw the brown leather Australian hat that had been reported missing. 

While in Vincennes, Cullison went to the Knox County Jail to speak with Wright. According to the probable cause affidavit, Wright explained he’d previously failed drug screens at the work release center and had been told if he failed one more, he would be sent back to jail. He alleged he knew he would fail the screen, so he cut off his bracelet and escaped. He told Cuiison he hid the green knife with skulls on it outside the work release center.  

Wright, according to the probable cause affidavit, told Cullison that upon leaving the work release center, he went across a field and fell into some water. He followed railroad tracks, walked through some woods, and ended up at the back side of the Metal Technologies facility. After going into the building to get a change of clothes, he exited to find a car in the middle of the parking lot. He approached the car, but alleged the door was locked. While contemplating his next move, another car pulled up. Wright alleged he approached the car and asked the driver for a lighter. The driver gave him a lighter and he walked away. Later, he alleged, he threw a rock at the car’s window but it didn’t break the glass. He then opened the car door, knife in hand, and told the driver to get out of the car. 

According to the probable cause affidavit, while walking around, he went into a garage and found a towel to clean up with as he was wet and muddy from falling into the water. He also told Cullison he took a Gatordate, bottled water, and granola bars. This was one of two garages he entered. Wright told Cullison the second garage is where he believed he took the hat from. He said he took some bottled water and was going to take some clothes but heard noises and left. 

Wright was held without bond; however, at his initial hearing in Greene Circuit Court on Dec. 7, his bond was set at $100,000 surety with 10% cash allowed.