Manhunt underway in Houston after inmate escapes from courthouse

Authorities are searching for an inmate who escaped during a court appearance in Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office announced during a news conference Thursday.

The inmate, Nigel Thomas Sanders, 35, was in custody for three burglaries and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. Sanders appeared at the courthouse at 1301 Franklin Street around 3:30 p.m. local time, authorities said. He held a court staff member at knifepoint, KHOU reported, before fleeing the courthouse.

The sheriff said Sanders got into a car after escaping from the courthouse, then the driver crashed the car and the inmate fled the scene. There were no injuries.

Marine units searched the bayou for the suspect. Sanders has no fixed address, the sheriff said, and authorities believe he has a knife.

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