In a joint operation between the 17th Judicial Task Force, the Alabama State Troopers and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, two inmates considered to be escapees were recaptured at a gas station in Boligee on Tuesday night.

Task Force Commander Clint Sumlin said Dallas Antonio Long, 29, and Kevin Lee Hardie, 21, were recaptured without incident Tuesday night. They were considered escapees from the Decatur Work Release Center program.

“We were called by the Troopers to come help recapture them,” Sumlin said. “They had stolen a car and were asleep in it at the BP gas station in Boligee. Two of us, one Trooper and four deputies from Greene County surrounded the car and got them out.”

Sumlin said the men were arrested and taken to the Greene County jail, and the stolen car was towed.

Long was given a 45-year sentence in 2006 for armed robbery in Elmore County. Hardie was incarcerated December 2012 for first-degree theft of property in Walker County.

The 17th Judicial Drug Task Force was started by District Attorney Greg Griggers in 2011. In addition to traffic enforcement, the Task Force also does undercover operations to stop drug trafficking and distribution in Marengo, Sumter and Greene counties.