Cobb County

Inmate on work release nearly makes it onto Las Vegas flight, police say

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A Cobb County inmate out on work release was almost able to leave the state, but was later caught, police said.

James Michael Travers III was enrolled in the work release program at the Cobb County Jail. He was serving time for D.U.I. and reckless conduct. The program allows inmates to leave jail for eight hours a day. Inmates must pass a background check to be eligible.

According to deputies, Travers didn’t come back from his work release program, bought an airplane ticket for Las Vegas and made it all the way to his gate before he was arrested Saturday. He was still wearing a suit jacket in his mugshots from the Cobb County jail.

Channel 2's Chris Jose spoke to Cobb Police about how Travers was caught.

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Police say earlier in the day on Saturday, Travers got into an argument with co-workers at Shillings on Marietta Square where he works as a waiter.

Soon after, Travers ran a red light and hit another car in Marietta. He stayed on the scene for questioning, but later disappeared.

The woman who's car he hit told Jose about the moment Travers vanished.

"He stood there, he talked, he engaged," she said. "Once I got back of the ambulance, that’s when no one could find him."

The Cobb County Sheriff's Office was able to fill in the pieces: They say Travers used a ride-sharing app to take him to his home in Johns Creek and then down to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, where he bought the ticket to Las Vegas.

Jose learned that Travers was arrested last year for DUI and reckless conduct. He violated his probation when he was arrested for another DUI in March.