GARYSBURG, N.C. — An inmate who escaped custody by jumping from a moving work crew van Tuesday afternoon was apprehended less than 30 minutes later, according to the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.
Michael Elijah Haddock, 30, of Bethel, was assigned as a trustee on a work crew Tuesday morning, Sept. 22.
At approximately 1:45 p.m., Haddock jumped from the moving work crew van while it was traveling on N.C. Highway 186 near Cornwallis Road in Garysburg, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, Garysburg Police Department, Garysburg Volunteer Fire Department, Gaston Volunteer Fire Department and Northampton Emergency Management responded to the area. The first responding unit arrived at approximately 1:49 p.m.
Haddock was apprehended at approximately 2:14 p.m. in the 1000 block of N.C. Highway 186 and taken back into custody.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Haddock was being held at the Northampton County Detention Center on behalf of Pitt County in connection with a driving while impaired charge.
Authorities said Haddock will face additional charges in Northampton County related to Tuesday’s escape.
Following the incident, the Roanoke Valley Reporter asked the Sheriff’s Office how Haddock was able to exit the moving van, whether he was restrained, how many detention personnel were accompanying the work crew and what security procedures were in place. The Reporter also asked about the criteria used to select inmates for trustee status and requested the agency’s policies governing trustee work crews and transportation.
“The escape is under investigation. No other information will be released at this time,” Capt. Ashley Collier responded Tuesday afternoon.
Northampton County Sheriff Jack Smith thanked the agencies that assisted in the response and apprehension of Haddock.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
