An investigation reveals that a deputy tasked with guarding an inmate who escaped from a hospital in Florida was "likely sleeping" at the time. The inmate, who had faked an injury to escape, was eventually captured hiding in bushes.
A Florida inmate who escaped from custody after faking an injury at a hospital was able to flee because the deputy assigned to guard him was "likely sleeping," according to authorities.
Flagler County Deputy Tyrique Harper resigned on Tuesday after an internal investigation into the escape of 29-year-old Anthony Romine from AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital. The incident prompted a lockdown of the facility and a massive manhunt for the inmate.
Deputy "Likely Sleeping" as Florida Inmate Faked Injury and Escaped
"Witnesses indicate that Deputy Tyrique Harper was likely sleeping during the time of the escape and the inmate was not properly restrained in accordance with policy," the Flagler County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
Harper was relieved of law enforcement duties immediately following the escape on July 27 while a preliminary review of the incident was being conducted.
Deputy "Likely Sleeping" as Florida Inmate Faked Injury and Escaped
Romine was initially arrested on July 3 on a felony warrant for petty theft, violation of his pre-trial release, and counterfeiting. He was later taken to the hospital after claiming he fell, an injury that investigators eventually determined he had faked in an effort to escape and return to Ohio, where he is originally from.
The manhunt lasted about seven hours until a Flagler County Sheriff's K-9 team tracked Romine to a wooded area by a gas station in Flagler County. He was hiding underneath some foliage and underbrush, and video footage shows a K-9 dragging a screaming Romine out from the bushes.
Deputy "Likely Sleeping" as Florida Inmate Faked Injury and Escaped
"Fortunately, Romine was apprehended, and no additional crimes were committed by him in his escape attempt," said Mark Strobridge, chief of staff of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
Strobridge said that Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly expects all deputies to follow the office's policies, which includes not falling asleep on duty.
Deputy "Likely Sleeping" as Florida Inmate Faked Injury and Escaped
"Sheriff Staly expects all deputies will follow our policies and not sleep while on-duty," Strobridge continued. "Our Agency motto is ‘An Honor to Serve, A Duty to Protect,’ and that did not occur in this incident by Deputy Harper."
After Romine’s capture, felony escape was added to the list of charges against him, as well as battery on a law enforcement officer without violence.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of inmates and the training and supervision of correctional officers. Sheriff Staly has ordered a full review of the escape and the policies and procedures in place at the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
