Escaped Prisoner In Custody, IDed Himself To TV Station: Report

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — A prisoner who escaped from a transport van Wednesday morning near the border between Howard and Anne Arundel and counties was taken into custody about 6 p.m. after he approached a Baltimore TV crew, reports said.

Howard County Police identified the escapee as Randy Morris, 38, who was incarcerated for burglary. Authorities said they heard about the escape around 8:30 a.m.

WBAL reported that police took Morris into custody near Market Place and Baltimore Street. in Annapolis Junction.

An 11 News crew spotted Morris while reporting the story on his escape, and WBAL-TV photographer Mac Finney called police.

"I was in the car editing the story for 5 p.m., and I just happened to look up from my laptop and I saw Mr. Morris," Finney said. "He gave me his name, and at the time I was calling 911. I got 911 on the horn and when he realized I was talking to 911, he started running a little bit through this parking garage."

About an hour late, police again had Morris in custody.

Police said Morris initially escaped from the van in Howard County near Dorsey Run Road and Maryland Route 32 in Annapolis Junction — about 3 miles from the Jessup Correctional Institution in Anne Arundel County.

Patch has not yet confirmed whether Morris is an inmate at the Jessup prison or another facility.

Officers searched for Morris on foot and with drones.

The Maryland State Police led the search. The Howard County Police Department and the Anne Arundel County Police Department are also helping.

Patch Editor Jacob Baumgart reported this story.