HoCo Drops Charges Against Jessup Fugitive

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Howard County prosecutors have dropped charges against the Wicomico County inmate who escaped near Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup earlier this month.

David Michael Watson, 28, had been transported from the Wicomico County Detention Center to the state-run forensic psychiatric hospital in Jessup for a periodic psychiatric evaluation when, as he was taken out of a van in the parking lot, he allegedly pushed a Wicomico County officer to the ground and ran into the woods.

A manhunt ensued following his disappearance near the facility on Friday, April 28, until he was found by Howard County tactical teams within a half-mile of the hospital on Wednesday, May 3.

Afterward, Watson was charged with escape in Howard and Wicomico counties.

He had been at the Howard County Detention Center ever since, despite a Howard County judge's initial order that he be transferred to Perkins for a psych evaluation.

"After consulting with all of the agencies and jurisdictions involved with Watson’s cases, the consensus was that the most expeditious course was to detain Watson at the detention center for evaluation by a visiting doctor," the Howard County State's Attorney's Office said in a statement Monday.

At a hearing in Howard County District Court on Wednesday, prosecutors dropped charges of first and second-degree escape as well as second-degree assault.

Watson was subsequently taken to Wicomico County, where he will face the charge of first-degree escape, the Howard County State's Attorney's Office said in a statement.

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At the time of his escape, Watson had been serving a sentence of more than 100 years in a Delaware prison for attempted murder of police. He was also charged in Wicomico County for attempted murder of police officers. He had been going to Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center for an evaluation of his competency.

According to the Howard County State's Attorney, he has a hearing in Wicomico County slated for Friday, May 12.

Photo of David Watson courtesy of the Howard County Police Department.