Inmate who escaped transport van in Howard County captured after hours-long manhunt
BALTIMORE -- An inmate who escaped a transport van in Howard County was captured after an hours-long manhunt, Maryland State Police said.
The inmate, identified as 38-year-old Randy Morris, was being taken to a medical appointment when he escaped from a Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services van around 8:30 a.m. near Dorsey Run and Route 32, according to Maryland State Police.
He was one of five people in the van and was not secure at the time of his escape, police said.
The Department of Corrections would not comment on whether securing an inmate during transport is part of their proper protocol and cited an active investigation.
#UPDATE The escaped inmate has been taken into custody. Thank you to the public for your assistance. https://t.co/ThgFZY0ZfO
— MD State Police (@MDSP) August 16, 2023
A perimeter was set up around the outskirts of an apartment complex and business park that overlooked an industrial park where the inmate was found just after 6 p.m.
"It begs to ask, why wasn't he secured? asked Howard County resident Rochelle Greggs.
Anne Arundel County Police, Howard County Police and Maryland State Police worked together on the ground and in the air to take the inmate back into custody.
Helicopter is back up searching for Jessup Correctional Institute inmate, Randy Morris near Dorsey Run Rd & 32
— Cristina Mendez (@CrisMendezTV) August 16, 2023
Police are holding a perimeter by a set of train tracks
Morris escaped this morning while being transported to a medical appointment @wjz pic.twitter.com/zbPtRU79kS
Records show Morris is a convicted burglar and was sentenced to 10 years at the Jessup Correctional Institute.
"They did say it was a low-level inmate but anyone can create cause for concern," Howard County resident Molik Hippolyte said.