Manhunt underway for ‘dangerous’ escaped Houston inmate who may be armed, authorities say

CNN
—

Law enforcement fanned out Thursday night in downtown Houston in search of a “dangerous” inmate who escaped and may be armed with a knife, the county sheriff’s office said by Harris.

Joshua Nigel Thomas Sanders, 35, escaped Thursday while returning to jail after a court appearance, the sheriff’s office said. He was being held for burglary and possession of a weapon by a felon.

“He went to court today and it appears that on his way back from court he may have facilitated his escape,” Detention Command Deputy Chief Phillip Bosquez said at a news conference. “He approached a woman during this escape once he was out on the street.”

During the escape, Sanders jumped into the car of a court employee who was leaving work, Bosquez said. The woman wrecked the car on Commerce Street, outside the Harris County Criminal Justice Center, he added.

“After the car was disabled in the crash, the subject got out of the car and ran down the street,” Bosquez said. “That was our last place with him on camera.”

Although the woman was “shaken,” she was not injured, Bosquez noted.

Authorities believe Sanders had a knife at some point after his escape, although it is unclear where or when he obtained the weapon.

Anyone seeing the suspect should call 911, the sheriff’s office said. Sanders is approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs approximately 140 pounds.

As part of the search, a marine unit is scouring a local bayou for signs of Sanders, Bosquez said.

CNN has contacted authorities for additional information.