An inmate has been arrested after threatening staff with a knife during a Houston court appearance Thursday and then fleeing, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The police department said in a social media post that 35-year-old Joshua Nigel Thomas Sanders was “arrested by the Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force” in eastern Harris County and was in custody “as of 3 a.m. June 14.”
He was being held on suspicion of three counts of theft and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon., Harris County Deputy Police Chief Philip Bosques said at a press conference.
Authorities said Sanders appeared at the courthouse at 1301 Franklin St. around 3:30 p.m. local time. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement that Sanders pointed a knife at a court officer and then fled the courthouse.
“Earlier today, one of our employees was forcibly restrained by a man armed with a knife, who appears to have escaped from the custody of authorities,” Ogg said. “We are pleased that she was not physically harmed during this incident.”
Bosques said Sanders “approached” the driver after fleeing the courthouse and got into his vehicle, but then crashed “within a few feet” of the vehicle and the suspect fled.
“After the accident disabled the vehicle, the suspect exited the vehicle and ran down the street,” Bosquez said. “That was the last time we saw him on camera.”
No one was injured in the accident.
Marines scoured the bayou looking for the suspect.
Sanders has no fixed address and authorities believe he was in possession of a knife, Bosques said.
