A K-9 unit is pictured on Route 380 in the town of Gerry. An inmate who walked away from a work detail at the county landfill in Ellery was captured following a brief manhunt. Photo by Dan Kohler

A Chautauqua County Jail inmate who left a work detail earlier this week has been charged with escape.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday announced the third-degree misdemeanor charge against 44-year-old Ralph Patterson.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Patterson was taking part in a work detail Monday morning with other inmates at the Chautauqua County Landfill when he reportedly escaped custody. The department did not specify what Patterson or the other inmates were doing at the town of Ellery facility as part of their detail outside the jail.

Patterson’s escape prompted an hour-long search that lasted about an hour. He was taken into custody in a field off Route 380 in the town of Gerry.

No injuries were reported in the manhunt, which occurred in below-freezing conditions and included K-9 units from numerous police agencies.

“Several law enforcement agencies responded to the area of where the escape occurred,” the Sheriff’s Office said in its news release. “Through coordinated efforts, the inmate was able to be quickly located and placed back into custody.”

Patterson is being held in the Chautauqua County Jail, the Sheriff’s Office announced. He’s scheduled to appear in Ellery Town Court at a later date to answer the latest charge.

This past October, Patterson was charged with obstructing governmental administration by the Ellicott Police Department after he attempted to run from officers while being detained. Patterson had been sought on an arrest warrant from the Sheriff’s Office.

Agencies that assisted Monday include the New York State Police, Jamestown Police Department, Lakewood-Busti Police Department, Gerry Fire Department and Chautauqua County EMS.