UPDATE 10:45 p.m. May 3, 2017: A Howard County police tactical team captured escaped prisoner David Watson around 9:40 p.m. in a wooded area off of Dorsey Run Road in Jessup. Tactical officers were rechecking terrain, including a small drainage pipe, approximately 18 inches in size, a few hundred yards from this morning’s sighting. Although the pipe had been confirmed empty earlier in the day, officers with night vision equipment rechecked the area after dark. They found Watson laying inside, attempting to hide. He surrendered and was taken into custody in good condition. He is currently in the custody of Howard County police and has been taken to Howard County central booking. Police will hold a press briefing at 9:30 a.m. at HCPD Headquarters in Ellicott City, with additional information after details have been confirmed with investigators.
UPDATE April 30, 2017, 9:00 a.m.:| Howard County Police suspend ground search for wanted suspect |
Howard County police are continuing the investigation to locate escaped prisoner David Watson, but have suspended the ground search after exhausting all search efforts in the immediate area. Throughout the day Friday, overnight and into Saturday morning, police continued to search the area around Clifton T. Perkins hospital in Jessup with bloodhounds, K-9 units, and helicopters with heat-seeking technology. There are no indications that Watson remains in the area and there have been no sightings.
The investigation remains active as officers from Howard County Police, U.S. Marshals Service and Maryland State Police continue to follow up on leads locally, and in Wicomico County, Md., and Delaware, where Watson also has ties.
Watson, 28, was being transported to the hospital on Dorsey Run Road by two guards from the Wicomico County Detention Center when he escaped custody and fled into a wooded area. The guards arrived in a van with Watson, who was the only prisoner, around 9:40 a.m. When they parked the van and opened the back door, Watson pushed a guard to the ground and ran into the woods. Investigators found handcuffs and a waist chain near the van.
Watson is serving a sentence of more than 100 years in a detention center in Delaware for attempted murder. He also has been charged in Wicomico County for attempted murder of police officers.
Watson is described as a white male, 5 feet eight inches tall and 140 pounds. He has face tattoos between his eyes and under his right eye, and numerous body tattoos, including “EVIL” on the back of his neck and “SIN” on his hand. He was last seen wearing all white clothing, with no markings or emblems. Investigators confirmed that Watson did not have access to a weapon at the time of the escape, as both of the guards’ handguns were in lock boxes inside the van.
Police are still gathering information and evidence to determine if Watson’s escape was planned, or if it was an impulsive act.
UPDATE 3:00 p.m.- Suspect is still on the loose. Police have found leg irons and handcuffs belonging to the escapee.
Jessup, MD: Police activity in Jessup as officers search for an escaped prisoner. Howard County Police are searching for a prisoner who escaped from Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in the 8400 block of Dorsey Run Road in Jessup at 9:45 AM. David M. Watson, 28, was being transported to the hospital by the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office when he escaped custody and fled into a wooded area. He is described as a white male, 5 feet eight inches tall and 140 pounds. He was last seen in the area of Dorsey Run Road and Patuxent Range Road.
Watson is serving time in Wicomico County for attempted murder of police officers.
Howard County Police are conducting a search of the area with patrol officers, K9 units, and a police helicopter. Anyone who sees a suspicious subject matching Watson’s description should call 911. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
***Do not approach this individual. He may be wearing prison attire and leg irons.***