An inmate was apprehended following an escape and ensuing manhunt on Tuesday, July 16.
Just after 3:30 p.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Office alerted the public that 49-year-old George Vincent had eluded law enforcement while receiving care at the Washington County Regional Medical Center.
A little over an hour later, the Sheriff’s Office provided an update to the community that Vincent had been captured and was back in the custody of local officers.
According to Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran, the inmate escaped from the local hospital when he reached a portion of his evaluation that required his restraints to be taken off.
Vincent was immediately sought after by local and state law enforcement officers. A canine tracking his scent led their search to his hideout location – not so far away – a tree within the immediate vicinity of an area near WCRMC.
Originally arrested last week on July 11, the inmate from Chatham County was being housed at the Washington County Jail. He was charged with criminal trespass and the crossing of guard lines with weapons, intoxicants, or drugs following an incident at the Washington State Prison in Davisboro.
This was the second attempted escape by an inmate receiving treatment at the local hospital within the past 3 months.
As previously reported by WACO 100, an effort on April 23 resulted in the death of 31-year-old Jacob Henson of Canton.
Following a stab wound in a fight with another inmate, Henson was transported to the Washington County Regional Medical Center. After failing to comply with Georgia Department of Corrections officer demands, he initiated a physical struggle and gained possession of a can of pepper spray.
Henson, who was serving an eight-year prison sentence for out-of-county aggravated assault charges, would utilize the weapon to incapacitate one officer before advancing towards a second public servant. A gun was fired by the second officer to halt the inmate. He was struck and pronounced dead at the scene.
That situation is still under investigation by the GBI.