Area sheriff's department still searching for inmate who escaped Saturday

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The search continues today for a man who escaped from the New Madrid County Jail.

New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens said today officers are continuing their efforts to locate Jermaine Spears, 28, of Steele, Mo.

Spears, who was being held on a change of venue from Pemiscot County on a charge of first-degree assault, was found missing Saturday morning. Spears is described as a 6-foot-tall black man weighing 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt.

"He had apparently been planning this for a long time," said Stevens.

Anyone with information is asked to call New Madrid County authorities at 573-748-2516.