ANAHUAC, Texas — An escaped inmate and his accomplice are in custody after Chambers County Sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement were searching then after the inmate escaped from a courtroom Friday morning in Anahuac.
Herbert Lee Coward, 37, of Winnie, was wearing an orange striped jail jumpsuit with CCSO Inmate on the back, as well as handcuffs and leg irons, when he escaped after appearing at the 253rd District Courtroom in the Chambers County courthouse in Anahauc around 11 a.m., Friday, June 21, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said in a news release.
He was being loaded into the jail van along with other inmates after exiting the courtroom when he escaped, Hawthorne said.
He got into a black four door Hyundai Elantra sedan, Hawthorne said. His escape was being aided by April Savannah Desha, 29, also of Winnie, Hawthorne said.
A background check of Coward showed that has previously been charged with escaping custody.
Coward and Desha were arrested about 1:30 p.m. in Crystal Beach after their vehicle was spotted by Galveston County Sheriff's deputies and Galveston County Constable Precinct 3, Hawthorne said.
Press releases from the Chambers County Sheriff's Office...
UPDATE: Moments ago, escaped inmate Herbert Lee Coward, along with April Savannah Desha, was apprehended and taken in to custody in Crystal Beach, Texas.
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and Galveston County Constable Precinct 3 deputies spotted the vehicle, affected a traffic stop and were able to take both in to custody without incident.
Sheriff Hawthorne apreciates the quick response all of our surrounding police agencies and a special message of gratitude to Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset and his team of deputies.
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Sheriff Hawthorne reports that today at approximately 11:00 a.m. Herbert Lee Coward, 37, of Winnie, Texas, escaped from custody after appearing at the Chambers County 253rd District Court docket.
Coward was handcuffed, wearing leg irons and an orange and white jail issued jump suit bearing” CCSO Inmate” on the back. Inmate Coward along with other inmates was being loaded in to the Jail van after exiting the courtroom.
Initial investigation reveals that his escape was being aided by April Savannah Desha, 29, of Winnie, Texas.
Coward got in to a black in color, four door Hyundai Elantra sedan, possible license plate LTL 7104.
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