Resident’s tip helps deputies, locate, capture escaped inmate Wednesday night

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Thursday, May 18, 2017, 1 a.m. — Anthony White, the Mount Washington man who escaped police custody Wednesday afternoon, was taken into custody Wednesday night about about 10:20 p.m.

ANTHONY R. WHITE

Just after 10 p.m., officers with the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 200 block of South Kennett Avenue after a resident reported seeing a man matching the description of the escapee. Officers located the suspicious man — a balding man dressed in shorts and a white t-shirt — and took him into custody. He was lodged in the Nelson County Jail.

Officers had canvassed the Maple Hill neighborhood Wednesday afternoon and distributed fliers to residents with the man’s description in an effort to help them identify him if he appeared. Apparently White did just as police said he might, which was to hide out in the neighborhood until nightfall.

White escaped from the back of Deputy Keith Riley’s cruiser while he was being being driven to the Nelson County Jail via Cathedral Manor. White was being transferred from Muhlenberg County to Nelson County to face theft charges here.

During the trip from Muhlenberg County, White apparently was able to get free from his restraints. With his hands free, once the police cruiser was in town, he was able to reach out of a partly opened window and open his door.

White fled on foot from the vehicle in the area of the Nelson County Public Library and Bethlehem High School. Officers have been searching the Maple Hill and surrounding areas in an effort to locate White. Officers located White’s shirt in the area of Barton Road and Kennett Avenue.

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