Jail transport driver Joshua James Pinquet charged with kidnapping after resigning mid-trip and refusing to hand over inmates

STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA: Joshua James Pinquet, a 21-year-old inmate transport driver from Orlando quit mid-trip with a van full of prisoners on November 28. He is currently facing kidnapping charges, according to the New York Post.

Pinquet allegedly sent in his resignation over text to his boss at around 9 am on the day of the incident. At the time he was driving four inmates through North Carolina on the way to Florida on Interstate 40, read a statement of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

The unnamed inmate transport company was hired by various law enforcement agencies outside North Carolina to provide transportation to inmates around the country when they need to be shifted from one detention center to another, the detectives gathered during the investigation.

Owner of inmate transport company says prison van went 'off course'

The van reportedly had four inmates locked in the cargo area. Pinquet allegedly refused to stop at the intended destinations with the inmates after texting that he had quit his job.

As per the statement from the Sheriff's office, "One other employee was traveling in the van with Pinquet, who was communicating through text messages with the transport company owner."

"Deputies quickly located and stopped the van on Interstate 40 near mile marker 154. Deputies detained both employees and ensured all inmates were secured in the rear of the van," read the statement.

During the investigation, detectives found out that, "Pinquet was supposed to stop at a location in Hickory with the inmates but had refused to stop and continued traveling Interstate 40 into Iredell County."

What are the charges brought against Joshua James Pinquet?

On account of his on-duty meltdown during the sensitive prison transport run, Pinqet has been charged with five counts of felony second-degree kidnapping and felony larceny by an employee.

He is currently being held at the Iredell County Detention Center, where he appeared before Magistrate R Imes, who did not issue any bond on his charges.

The inmates of the prison van were turned over to other employees of the transport company and continued to their destinations in Florida, the sheriff’s office said.