A St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center inmate attempted to escape Saturday evening after damaging his cell, a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman said Sunday.

Anthony Jones, 41, 600 block of Cleveland Avenue, Patterson, was charged with attempted escape and simple criminal damage to property. He had been held in the jail since Sept. 20 on a charge of first-degree robbery stemming from an Aug. 31 incident at a Bayou Vista business.

According to SMPSO press release, a corrections deputy saw Jones cause damage to a light fixture in his cell shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday. Jones was placed in another room and subsequently attempted to escape from that room. Jones’ attempt was not successful and deputies kept him in custody. Acadian Ambulance was called to give medical attention to Jones and, after being medically cleared, Jones was booked on the charges of criminal damage to property and attempted escape.

“Because of the quick response of jail personnel and patrol deputies, the attempt was stopped almost immediately,” St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a prepared statement.