A handcuffed jail inmate charged with attempted murder who escaped while being transported to a hearing Monday was believed to still be hiding in about 600 acres of woods in Sumter County, Fla., according to Local 6 News.

Dominic Leonard Reddick, 22, took off as the vehicle was being repaired, authorities said.

"We believe he is still out there in the wooded area where we started the search," said Lt. Donald Knee with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. "It's at least 560 acres of swamp. He's really got nowhere to go."

"It is pretty rough terrain where he is at," Sumter County sheriff's Chief Deputy Jack Jordan said. "It is cattle ranch area. It is swamp and heavy underbrush and he is barefoot."

Reddick was being transported with seven other inmates from Orlando to Gainesville in a van run by a private transport company.

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MAP: Map Of Search Area

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While a mechanic worked on the truck, the inmates were taken one by one to the bathroom, Knee said.

"They had them all standing out in front of the station and were taking them to the bathroom one at a time," gas station worker Amanda Pyne said.

"The other guard was out here loading them back up in the van. And all I know is, one of them was missing when they took a head count," gas station mechanic Vic Dalesandry said.

Sheriff's officers were videotaped searching a wooded area in Sumter County late Monday and early Tuesday.

Reddick was not wearing leg shackles, but he was restrained with handcuffs connected to a chain that were around his waist.

Knee said Reddick was caught trying to escape the Alachua County jail in October.

The two officers who were transporting Reddick are state certified and work for State Extraditions Inc., according to the report.

Officials with the company told Local 6 News they are investigating the escape.

If you have any information concerning Reddick's whereabouts, you are urged to call Crimeline at (800) 423-TIPS.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.