If he had just waited a few more hours, Trenton L. Holliman could have walked out of Western Tidewater Regional Jail a free man.

Holliman, 27, who escaped from the Godwin Boulevard jail around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, was eligible for bond, said Superintendent Jeff Newton. Holliman, of the 1200 block of Exchange Road, was arrested Saturday morning and charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit assault, assault and battery, trespassing and destruction of property.

“He was waiting to make bond,” Newton said. “The bondsman had said he was going to post it for him.”

Holliman escaped from the jail’s booking area by walking out an unlocked door, then taking off on foot, said Newton. The officer in the booking office had gone into an adjacent room to run a criminal check, he said.

He is the first person to escape from Western Tidewater Regional Jail in its 14-year history.

Suffolk Police Detective John Jones spent most of Saturday night calling Holliman’s family and friends, letting them know that he could safely turn himself into the detective, said Lt. Debbie George, spokeswoman for the Suffolk Police Department.

After family members coordinated his return with Jones, Holliman turned himself in at the jail around 1 a.m. Sunday, George said.

Holliman, who was on the lam for about eight hours, was charged with a felony, escape without force, George said.

Holliman will be appearing in General District Court today on a cocaine possession charge.

Meanwhile, Newton is investigating how the incident happened and who is responsible.

The jail has been opeating with keys for the past two months, while a new electronic security system is being installed, Newton said.

“Someone will be held accountable,” Newton said. “The door should have been secured. Someone neglected to lock it.”

Holliman had only been gone for “seconds” before jail personnel realized he had escaped, Newton said. Police were called immediately.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com