An attempt to break out of the Butler County Jail was foiled on Monday night when a maintenance worker discovered a lock on an outside door had been tampered with.

A suspect had removed the screws holding together the locking mechanism then used toothpaste as a sealant, giving the appearance that the mechanism was working correctly, according to Butler County Sheriff Diane Harris.

Harris, along with her deputies, positioned themselves outside of the jail in the woods on Tuesday morning, awaiting the attempted breakout. No inmates made such an attempt and Harris had maintenance workers weld the lock back in place.

&#8220We know who did this, but I don't want to give a name right now because we believe he is going to try it again,” said Harris.

Harris said she believed the inmates planned to escape on Monday night, but increased activity around the jail following the arrest of former deputy Tyson Bennett on drug possession charges could have brought a halt to their intentions.

The Butler County Commission bonded $2.7 million for a new county jail last year. Ground was broken on the new jail, which will be located behind the Butler County Courthouse Annex, in June and workers have spent the last two months clearing the land for construction.

It will take between 16 and 18 months to complete the new jail.