UPDATE (6 p.m.): Police have arrested escaped inmate Randy Morris in Annapolis Junction.In a bizarre development, an 11 News crew spotted Morris while putting together a story on him. He even shared his name before taking off. WBAL-TV photographer Mac Finney called the police, who quickly narrowed down the escapee’s location to a wooded area in Anne Arundel County.”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.”Amara took a cell phone video showing Morris running across railroad tracks, into brush and down a nearby street.Finney said the experience was surreal and a first for the veteran photojournalist.”This has never happened to me in 40-some years of covering thousands of news stories,” Finney said.In about an hour, police were able to take Morris into custody near Market Place and Baltimore Street.An investigation is still ongoing as to how Morris was able to escape the prison van.| VIDEO: SkyTeam 11 captures video of arrest live on air ORIGINAL STORY: Maryland State Police are searching for a prisoner who escaped from custody Wednesday morning. According to police, around 8:30 a.m., an inmate escaped a transport van in the area of Dorsey Run Road in Jessup. Randy Morris, 38, is described as a white man, 5 feet, 9 inches tall and around 130 pounds. He is balding with a beard and was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue shorts and is no longer wearing handcuffs or shackles.”At this point in time, we’re continuing to search for the inmate and we’re asking anyone who may have seen something or may know his location to call 911 or Maryland State Police,” spokesman Ron Snyder said.Police said Morris is serving 10 years for burglary.| VIDEO: Kate Amara describes moment escaped inmate approached news crewAccording to police, Morris was part of a group of five prisoners being transported to a medical appointment. He was wearing a prison jumpsuit but was not handcuffed or shackled by police. He managed to get out of the van when it stopped in traffic on Route 32.”For whatever reason, when the van stopped, the inmate decided to unlock the door and escape,” Snyder said. When asked how that happened, he said, “It’s very early in the investigation. This happened this morning and we have multiple agencies looking into exactly what happened along with (Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services) officials to see what exactly happened this morning, how he was able to escape, and right now, our concern is locating him and bringing him back into custody.”He took off the prison jumpsuit while the four other inmates remained in the van and are accounted for, police said. No injuries have been reported at this time. Howard and Anne Arundel County police departments are assisting in the search. Anyone who sees Morris is asked to call 911. | VIDEO: Police search for escaped inmate in Howard County
UPDATE (6 p.m.): Police have arrested escaped inmate Randy Morris in Annapolis Junction.
In a bizarre development, an 11 News crew spotted Morris while putting together a story on him. He even shared his name before taking off. WBAL-TV photographer Mac Finney called the police, who quickly narrowed down the escapee’s location to a wooded area in Anne Arundel County.
“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.”
Amara took a cell phone video showing Morris running across railroad tracks, into brush and down a nearby street.
Finney said the experience was surreal and a first for the veteran photojournalist.
“This has never happened to me in 40-some years of covering thousands of news stories,” Finney said.
In about an hour, police were able to take Morris into custody near Market Place and Baltimore Street.
An investigation is still ongoing as to how Morris was able to escape the prison van.
| VIDEO: SkyTeam 11 captures video of arrest live on air
ORIGINAL STORY: Maryland State Police are searching for a prisoner who escaped from custody Wednesday morning.
According to police, around 8:30 a.m., an inmate escaped a transport van in the area of Dorsey Run Road in Jessup. Randy Morris, 38, is described as a white man, 5 feet, 9 inches tall and around 130 pounds. He is balding with a beard and was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue shorts and is no longer wearing handcuffs or shackles.
“At this point in time, we’re continuing to search for the inmate and we’re asking anyone who may have seen something or may know his location to call 911 or Maryland State Police,” spokesman Ron Snyder said.
Police said Morris is serving 10 years for burglary.
| VIDEO: Kate Amara describes moment escaped inmate approached news crew
According to police, Morris was part of a group of five prisoners being transported to a medical appointment. He was wearing a prison jumpsuit but was not handcuffed or shackled by police. He managed to get out of the van when it stopped in traffic on Route 32.
“For whatever reason, when the van stopped, the inmate decided to unlock the door and escape,” Snyder said. When asked how that happened, he said, “It’s very early in the investigation. This happened this morning and we have multiple agencies looking into exactly what happened along with (Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services) officials to see what exactly happened this morning, how he was able to escape, and right now, our concern is locating him and bringing him back into custody.”
He took off the prison jumpsuit while the four other inmates remained in the van and are accounted for, police said. No injuries have been reported at this time.
Howard and Anne Arundel County police departments are assisting in the search. Anyone who sees Morris is asked to call 911.
| VIDEO: Police search for escaped inmate in Howard County