BREAKING: Manhunt Underway in Atlanta After Rockdale County Inmate Flees Hospital Custody, Steals SUV and Handgun

17GEN4.com

ATLANTA (AP) — A tense multi-agency manhunt gripped the streets of downtown Atlanta early Monday as authorities scrambled to recapture an escaped Rockdale County inmate described as "armed and dangerous" following a brazen overnight flight from Grady Memorial Hospital.

Timothy Shane, a 5-foot-9 white male with a buzz cut, slipped away from deputy custody at the hospital around 1:20 a.m., according to the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office. Shane had been transported to the facility around 8 p.m. Sunday for a medical evaluation after an apparent suicide attempt while incarcerated. Details on the exact method of his escape remain under investigation, but officials confirmed he bolted from the premises wearing only a blue hospital gown and no shoes.

Witnesses and investigators reported that Shane wasted little time in making his getaway. He fled on foot before commandeering an SUV parked nearby at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and Auburn Avenue. Inside the vehicle, Shane discovered and took a Glock handgun belonging to the owner, heightening concerns about his potential threat to the public. The sheriff's office emphasized Shane's history of felony drug and weapons charges, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Less than a mile into his flight, the stolen SUV slammed into another vehicle near the intersection of Peachtree Street and Ralph McGill Boulevard, deploying airbags and leaving the front end mangled. First responders arrived swiftly, but Shane had already vanished on foot once more, abandoning the wreckage. The crash site, close to the bustling Downtown Connector, saw reduced lanes but remained open to traffic as police cordoned off the area for investigation.

"This individual is considered armed and dangerous, and we urge the public to exercise extreme caution," Lt. Billy Burrell of the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office told reporters during a morning briefing. "Do not approach him. If you see him, call 911 immediately."

The search effort quickly escalated, drawing in resources from the Atlanta Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and K-9 units from multiple jurisdictions. By mid-morning, deputies were spotted combing Centennial Olympic Park and surrounding neighborhoods, though no specific leads had been publicly confirmed. The sheriff's office, in coordination with federal partners, issued a stark warning via social media and local broadcasts, circulating Shane's photo and description to heighten public vigilance.

Shane's evasion marks the latest in a string of high-profile inmate escapes from Atlanta-area medical facilities this year, raising questions about security protocols during off-site transports. In September, another detainee, Carwon Redding, slipped away from Grady under similar circumstances, prompting a $5,000 reward and an ongoing probe. While unrelated, the incidents have fueled calls for enhanced oversight from county jails. 17GEN4