Photo: ethanbratton1
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez says that the inmate who escaped custody during a transfer back to the Harris County Jail from a court appearance has been taken back into custody today after causing a lockdown at the University of Houston Downtown.
The inmate, who was identified as Joshua Nigel Thomas Sanders, was able to escape by accosting a District Attorney's Office employee and jumping into her car. She crashed the vehicle just a few feet away, and Sanders ran towards the Buffalo Bayou.
Following the incident, DA Kim Ogg issued the following statement:
"Earlier today, one of our employees was held against her will by a man with a knife who apparently escaped from official custody. We are thankful and grateful that she was not physically harmed during this incident. The general public should be on heightened alert that this man has yet to be apprehended, but we are confident that law enforcement will be able to find and apprehend the suspect. Once he is arrested, we expect to prosecute this defendant and seek justice in this case."
Sheriff Gonzalez says that Sanders was apprehended by the Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force around 3:00 am this morning in east Harris County.