An inmate who escaped from the Gardendale City Jail Friday night was quickly put behind bars again.

“All she did was make life worse,” said Gardendale Police Lt. Bryan Lynch.

The inmate, Lekecia Shonte Johnson, 32, of Birmingham, had been sentenced on Friday to 150 days in jail on charges of probation violation. She had been on probation for failure to pay fines, according to Lynch.

A dispatcher reportedly removed Johnson from her cell at 8 p.m. to make a telephone call, according to Lynch. At the Gardendale jail, dispatchers also serve as jailers.

Lynch said Johnson became disorderly, and the dispatcher was going to place the inmate into an isolation cell so jailers could monitor her with cameras.

However, Johnson reportedly threw a handful of personal items, including bed linens, at the dispatcher, and ran.

“She got out the door and ran out into the parking lot,” Lynch said.

The dispatcher’s hand and head were injured, according to Lynch.

The dispatcher and several police officers pursued Johnson, capturing her in the back parking lot and bringing her back inside.

“She didn’t get too far. They were right on top of her,” said Lynch.

The next morning, detectives got warrants on Johnson for felony escape and escape third degree. She was transferred to the Jefferson County Jail, with bonds of $10,000 for the escape charge and $300 for the assault charge.

“It was an expensive run for her,” Lynch said.

He said that if Johnson makes bond with Jefferson County, she will return to Gardendale to serve out her 150-day sentence.

Gardendale Mayor Othell Phillips said the incident is a result of the jail being outdated.

The city has placed an offer on the former Food World store on Decatur Highway in order to move the police department there, including the jail, court and magistrates’ offices.

“This is a primary reason our facilities need to be updated,” he said.