Police: Escaped Inmate Drunk on Hand Sanitizer Stole Car

An inmate with the Virginia Department of Corrections is back in custody after a frantic escape from a work detail Wednesday afternoon, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.

Benjamin Wash, 32, was on a work detail in a food kitchen near the Shannon Airport in Spotsylvania County at about 3:30pm.

He was reportedly discovered drinking a bottle of hand sanitizer taken from the kitchen. When confronted, he fled out the back door, ran across the runway at Shannon Airport, and stole a car from a parking lot across the street.

Driving erratically, Wash was pursued in a car chase into Caroline County before eventually surrendering.

Wash was charged by Spotsylvania County Deputies with Felony Larceny of the sanitizer, Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, and Felony Escape. In CarolineCounty, he was charged with Felony Eluding, Reckless Driving and DUI.