It turns out a Department of Corrections inmate who escaped while on work detail had some practice, he'd done it before, according to Sheriff Chris Nocco.

Officials say Jason Adams was working along State Road 54 in Lutz on August 28th when he took off and went to a nearby convenience store.

"It's pretty scary the fact was he was just out there in our community shopping," said Sheriff Nocco.

Law enforcement officials said Adams ditched his prison work uniform so he would blend in.

"He took off his light blue clothing that you would normally see the DOC guys in so he looked more like a regular civilian," said Detective David Boyer with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Surveillance video shows Adams buying chewing tobacco cigarettes and alcohol which he planned to smuggle back into the Sumter County Correctional Institute.

He returned to the work detail and the guards never knew he'd been gone. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office uncovered information and turned it over to the DOC.

"I think that the corrections officer who was involved in this who has now resigned from the department of corrections after they were confronted with all the information,” said Nocco. “I think that person was negligent in the fact that, how could you not notice somebody was missing, how could you not notice people were gone and some of the arrangements he made have had with the inmates was improper to say the least," said Sheriff Nocco.

A few days later, while on work detail along the same road with the same guard, Adams escaped again. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office was called in this time to try to help find him.

"There's no doubt that the Corrections Officer did a horrible job out there. Now, we're looking at a criminal investigation to make sure everybody is brought to justice who was involved to allow this to occur," said Sheriff Nocco.

Adams made it across county lines into Hillsborough before he was caught.

According to state records, Adams was serving a six-year sentence for burglary and grand theft convictions from Brevard County.

The DOC said it is making some changes because of this case. The agency says it will conduct more unannounced inspections of work squads in the field.

Wardens are also being asked to review their procedures.