Updated with the name of the inmate.
Freedom was short-lived for a local inmate who broke away from a transport van Thursday, according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.
Court documents show Anthony Michael White, 33, of Whiteville, was arrested in Columbus for failure to register as a sex offender. White was listed as homeless, but previously lived on Silver Maple Lane in Whiteville. He was taken into custody Wednesday and turned over to New Hanover Thursday (Sept. 3).
New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office detention records and court documents show White faces charges of misdemeanor domestic violence, assault by strangulation, assault on a female, and resist/obstruct/delay an officer. He is being held under no bond.
White pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a minor in Cumberland County in 2011, and served ten months behind bars, with credit for time served. A charge of first degree sex offense was dismissed. The Sex Offender Registry shows he was 17 when he molested a two-year-old child. He was ordered to remain on the registry for a minimum of ten years. White was released Sept. 30, 2011.
The inmate, who is being housed at New Hanover Detention, briefly escaped custody and was recaptured by Columbus and New Hanover deputies, according to a CCSO press release. He managed to open the door of the transport van and escape on Blue Clay Road, near the New Hanover detention center.
“I have a responsibility to look at what occurred,” Sheriff Bill Rogers said in the release. “A thorough review will be conducted to ensure our procedures were followed. I will address anything that needs changing in our current inmate transport procedures.”
Rogers said the deputy in charge immediately contacted Communications, and deputies from all three counties responded and set up a perimeter. Columbus and New Hanover deputies caught the runaway while Brunswick was en route to assist with its mantracking team.
The inmate was taken on to New Hanover Detention, where he is being housed for CCSO, Rogers said.
“While this is certainly not the outcome, we expect when transporting someone in our custody, I want to especially commend the outstanding response from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office,” said Rogers. “Their quick response resulted in the inmate being back in custody before additional personnel from Brunswick County and Columbus County even arrived on scene. That is exactly the kind of partnership we value between neighboring law enforcement agencies.
“I want to personally thank Sheriff McMahon and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Deputies for being there when we needed them. I also appreciate Sheriff Chism and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and our own personnel who immediately responded to assist.”
