Incarcerated patient escapes Georgia hospital

The Rockdale County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Office, along with other law enforcement agencies, is searching for an incarcerated patient who allegedly escaped custody after being transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta for a medical examination following a reported suicide attempt, according to the sheriff’s office.

In a statement, sheriff’s deputies said emergency medical services provider National EMS, along with the sheriff’s office, transported Timothy Shane to Grady at approximately 8 p.m. Nov. 30. At approximately 1:20 a.m. Dec. 1, they said Mr. Shane escaped the hospital while in deputy custody.

After fleeing on foot, Mr. Shane allegedly stole an SUV in the area, then fled again on foot after crashing the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. The SUV’s owner later reported a Glock handgun was missing from the vehicle.

Authorities described Mr. Shane as a white male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a buzzed haircut. He was wearing a blue hospital gown and no shoes when he escaped, they said.

Deputies added that Mr. Shane “has a history of fleeing along with felony drug and weapon charges” and “should be considered armed and dangerous.”

In response to the incident, Grady administration shared the following statement with Becker’s: “The existing policy for inmates under treatment at the hospital is that the custodial law enforcement agency must have one-to-one oversight of them at all times.” The hospital referred further questions to the sheriff’s office.

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