August M
A 52-year-old inmate who fled police custody in Covington, near Atlanta, was recaptured Monday after a brief but chaotic escape
Residents near Atlanta were left stunned this week after a prison inmate on the run managed to slip out of police custody, steal two vehicles and somehow order a rideshare before being recaptured.
The bizarre sequence triggered multiple investigations into how the 52-year-old managed to flee despite being guarded in hospital.
Hospital escape
According to 20 Minutes, the man had been admitted to a Covington hospital after a reported suicide attempt. At about 1 a.m., he evaded the officers posted to watch him and drove off in a stolen vehicle near the facility.
After crashing, he fled on foot and is believed to have taken another car later that morning as he continued his escape.
Authorities classified him as “armed and dangerous”, launching an immediate search. Police said they began receiving calls from residents who saw a man “knocking on the doors” of several apartments in a nearby building.
Arrest and early clues
The fugitive was taken into custody later that day. Police announced on Wednesday that two separate investigations — including an internal review — have been opened to determine how the escape was possible.
Initial findings show that although two officers had been assigned to guard him, only one was present when he fled.
Detectives also discovered that the inmate had managed to order an Uber during his time on the run. No phone was found, and investigators have yet to determine how he accessed the rideshare service.
Motive questioned
Officials are now piecing together the timeline as they search for missing devices and interview staff involved in the hospital transfer.
The case has raised fresh concerns about inmate supervision protocols, particularly in medical facilities, and how detainees might exploit lapses in security.
Sources: 20 Minutes; USA Today
