‘Dangerous’ escaped Houston inmate captured after manhunt, authorities say

By Raja Razek, Paradise Afshar and Mallika Kallingal, CNN

(CNN) — An escaped inmate in Houston who was considered “dangerous” has been captured after an hours-long manhunt, authorities said.

Joshua Nigel Thomas Sanders, 35, was captured at around 3 a.m. Friday in east Harris County, sheriff’s office Major Saul Suarez said during an early morning news conference.

Two other suspects believed to be “criminal associates” of Sanders were also arrested on charges of hindering apprehension, Suarez said. At least one of them is believed to be related to Sanders, he added.

During his capture, Sanders resisted arrest and “our officers and deputies deployed taser and the suspect was taken into custody,” Suarez said. Sanders was taken to a hospital as a precaution and will be transported to the Harris County Jail once he’s medically cleared.

Sanders escaped Thursday while being transported after a court appearance back to jail, where he was being held on charges of burglary and possession of a weapon by a felon, the sheriff’s office said.

During the escape, Sanders jumped into the car of a court employee who was leaving work, Assistant Chief of Detentions Command Phillip Bosquez said Thursday. The woman wrecked the car outside the Harris County Criminal Justice Center, he added.

“After the car was disabled during the accident, the subject got out of the car and ran down the street,” Bosquez said. “That was our last location with him on camera.”

While the woman was “shaken up,” she was not injured, Bosquez noted.

Sanders will face new charges of aggravated robbery and escape for Thursday’s incident, Suarez said.

The sheriff’s office thanked the community for sending tips and said they were able to locate the suspect thanks to efforts from local, state and federal authorities.

“He was a known criminal associate in this area so we were able to track him back to this area that he’s been known to hang out at,” Suarez said.

There is no threat to public safety anymore, Suarez said.

CNN’s Lechelle Benken contributed to this report.

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