Escaped Inmate Recaptured After Daring Leap from Jail Transport Van

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A man described as a serious violent felon is once again in police custody after allegedly escaping from a transport van heading to the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis.

According to local station WXIN, witnesses at a homeless encampment near the city’s east side reported seeing the fugitive hiding beneath a bridge under Southeastern Avenue. Authorities apprehended the suspect at approximately 3:55 p.m., although specific details about the capture were not immediately released.

The incident unfolded around 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday when sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 695 Justice Way, the site of the Marion County Criminal Justice Campus, following reports of a “jail break.” Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were also engaged in the search for the “escaped inmate from the CJC.”

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect, identified as Green, reportedly leapt from the back of a transport van at around 11:15 a.m. while it was en route to the Criminal Justice Campus. At the time of his escape, he was under the supervision of Marion County Community Corrections.

The search for Green involved the use of drones, K9 units, and extensive search parties. The manhunt mobilized more than 50 law enforcement officers in total, all working collaboratively to locate and apprehend the escapee.

At one point, deputies were using K9s to search homeless encampments along Southeastern Avenue. This is where witnesses say Green was eventually found.

Officials confirmed Green was back in custody around 4 p.m. Around that same time, WXIN crews spoke with two people who said they saw Green’s capture occur underneath a bridge near a homeless encampment.

By 4:30 p.m., Green was again booked into the Marion County Jail and a police report had been filed.

Green was under arrest for an outstanding warrant issued Tuesday morning out of Marion County for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a level 4 felony.

“Green was sentenced to Marion County Community Corrections Work Release,” a Community Corrections official said. “He was being transported for an active warrant that had been issued based on a Violation filed by Marion County Community Corrections. He was in trip gear at the time of the escape, meaning he was handcuffed by both his wrists and ankles.”

Court records show Green has an extensive criminal history in Marion County, having been booked into jail at least 18 times since 2006. He was first convicted of armed robbery and carjacking at the age of 16.

To read Green’s full rap sheet, click here.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement Tuesday afternoon confirming that Green was not in MCSO custody at the time of the escape.

“Community Corrections is an independent agency and is not overseen by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office or Sheriff Kerry Forestal,” the statement read. “Multiple agencies are assisting in attempting to locate Green.”

MCSO said that the Marion County Community Corrections Agency is the lead investigating body on this case and directed all questions to them. IMPD also later clarified that the man escaped from Community Corrections and was not in another agency’s custody.

“We are still reviewing the exact timeline of events. We know there was a short delay in the notification to the Sheriff,” Community Corrections officials said. “It appears the custody officer first contacted his chain of command, then the Sheriff’s Office was notified.”

“We were notified by Community Corrections via telephone at approximately 11:19-11:20 a.m. that one of their arrestees had escaped their custody,” MCSO said in a statement. “They informed us there was roughly a fifteen-minute time delay in notifying us of the escape.”

Indianapolis Public Schools confirmed that no buildings were put on lockdown during the search for the escapee.