HOUSTON, TX – An intense manhunt concluded early Friday morning with the capture of an inmate who had escaped custody during transport from a court appearance the previous day. Joshua Nigel Thomas Sanders, 35, was apprehended at approximately 3 a.m., nearly 12 hours after his escape, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities found Sanders at a residence in Houston believed to be owned by a relative. Officers deployed a taser to subdue him as he resisted arrest. Two additional individuals were also detained for allegedly aiding Sanders in evading capture, said Harris County Major Saul Suarez.
Sanders was initially in custody on charges of three burglaries and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, explained Harris County Chief Phillip Bosquez in an earlier briefing. During his escape, Sanders reportedly accosted a woman and commandeered her vehicle, which he crashed shortly thereafter. He then fled the scene on foot, marking the last sighting until his capture.
The University of Houston Downtown was placed on lockdown during the search for Sanders, issuing an alert to students and staff to stay indoors and secure all doors. The lockdown was lifted once authorities deemed the area safe.
Investigators are still piecing together how Sanders managed to escape, but he now faces additional charges of aggravated robbery and escape. Sanders is receiving medical treatment and will be returned to the Harris County Jail upon clearance from medical professionals, Suarez added.
Authorities had warned that Sanders should be considered armed and dangerous during the manhunt. He was believed to have been armed with a knife at the time of his escape, although further details were not confirmed.