Authorities in Arkansas are actively searching for 41-year-old Rodney Smith, an inmate who allegedly escaped from the Brinkley Detention Center early Thursday morning. According to the Brinkley Police Department, Smith escaped around 7:15 a.m. after assaulting a jailer and a Brinkley Police Department officer. He is currently considered armed and dangerous, and the public has been strictly advised not to approach or attempt to detain him. Smith is described as standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 260 pounds. At the time of his escape, he was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, yellow pants, and white socks. Law enforcement agencies, including the Brinkley Police Department, the Arkansas State Police, and an Arkansas Department of Corrections K-9 unit, are joining forces to locate the suspect. Records indicate that Smith has a prior criminal history that includes charges of aggravated robbery and domestic battery. The escape has prompted significant safety measures in the local community. Out of an abundance of caution, the Brinkley Public Schools placed their campus on lockdown due to the proximity of the correctional facility to the district. School officials have instructed all students and staff to follow established lockdown procedures and have asked parents not to come to the school or attempt to pick up their children until further notice. The Brinkley Police Department is urging anyone with information regarding Smith's whereabouts to contact them immediately. Tips can be reported by calling 911, reaching the Brinkley Police Department at 870-734-3434, or contacting ASP Troop D at 870-633-1454. Updates on the search operation are expected as more information becomes available.