Inmate Joshua Nigel Thomas Sanders captured at his mother’s east Harris County home 12 hours after escaping from courthouse, HCSO says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — An escaped inmate who authorities say also tried to carjack a prosecutor’s office employee at knifepoint was arrested early Friday morning, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.

Around 3 a.m., Nigel Thomas Sanders was captured at his mother’s home in the 1400 block of Force St. by the Eastern Harris County Fugitive Violent Offender Task Force, according to authorities.

There is no threat to public safety, the sheriff’s office said, adding that Sanders will face new charges of aggravated robbery and eluding for Thursday’s incident.

Sanders is not the only person who will be charged.

ABC13 has learned that two other people, identified as his mother and sister, were arrested on charges of hindering his arrest, officials said.

The sheriff’s office said in an update Friday morning that Sanders resisted arrest, so authorities deployed a Taser and took him into custody. He is being treated in hospital.

Authorities added that they had received several leads and that several law enforcement agencies were involved in tracking down the suspect’s addresses.

Sanders’ capture Friday marked the end of a 12-hour search for a man authorities considered dangerous.

It all started around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, when the sheriff’s office was notified of an escape, prompting a shutdown of the jail complex, HCSO Deputy Chief Philip Bosquez said.

An inmate count revealed that Sanders was missing. They believed he had escaped from 1301 Franklin, the building adjacent to the criminal courthouse.

Bosquez said Sanders, who has a lengthy criminal history, was in court on three counts of burglary and illegal possession of a weapon as part of a felony charge. After his hearing, Sanders was on his way to the prison when Bosquez said he “facilitated” the escape, although HCSO did not mention details.

Sanders arrived at the building’s exit port, where an employee was getting into her vehicle. Bosquez said there he jumped in and held her at knifepoint. The woman crashed into several cars and Sanders took off on foot.

Bosquez could only say that Sanders obtained the knife outside the prison.

The University of Houston-Downtown previously issued an alert to students and staff, warning them to “go indoors immediately,” “lock exterior doors” and “avoid windows.” UHD later said there was no longer an emergency and the situation had been resolved.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg also confirmed that the employee, held against her will, works in her office.

“We are thankful and grateful that she was not physically harmed during this incident,” Ogg said. “Once he is arrested, we hope to prosecute this defendant and seek justice in this case.”

After the attempted carjacking, Sanders jumped into nearby Buffalo Bayou, wearing his prison-issued black shirt and orange pants.

ABC13 is told Sanders has associates in the Cloverleaf area, where he was found.

We are also looking to find out how Sanders was able to escape.

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