Edward Moore escaped from custody in North Carolina, police say. (Fayetteville Police)
A 39-year-old “extremely dangerous” bank robbery suspect is on the run in North Carolina after escaping from custody while at a hospital, police say.
Edward Moore, 39, assaulted a sheriff’s deputy Wednesday night, taking a Taser from him and running out of the hospital, the Fayetteville Police Department said.
Moore was being held by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office on 10 felony charges, including robbery with a dangerous weapon, police say.
The sheriff’s deputy was injured during the escape, but is expected to be OK.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Moore Used the Stolen Taser to Carjack a Woman Who Was Dropping Off Her Father at the Hospital, Police Say
Edward Moore was taken by a Cumberland County Sheriff’s Deputy to the Cape Fear Medical Center in Fayetteville Wednesday night, WNCN-TV reports.
At some point, Moore attacked the deputy and made his escape, stealing the deputy’s Taser, police said. He then went out of the hospital and carjacked a woman who was dropping her father of at the hospital, according to police.
“I was unloading him, got him in a wheelchair and when I stood up, turned to take him inside the inmate ran out with a weapon pointed at us, yelling, ran around my vehicle and got in and took off,” Naloni Williams told the news station. “I was wondering what was going to happen to my dad. He’s already sick. That’s my daddy. You know, who’s going to get hurt? What’s gonna happen next?”
2. He Was Wearing an Orange Jail Jumpsuit With a Waist Chain & Shackles On
Moore was wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and had a waist chain and shackles on when he was taken to the hospital, police told the Fayetteville Observer.
“Any time an inmate is transported, they are shackled, handcuffed and waist-chained,” Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Sean Swain told the newspaper. “It’s not that he broke free, it depends on the treatment plan on how ‘free’ he has to be. I don’t know what his treatment was and to what level he was released.”
Investigators were reviewing surveillance video recorded at the hospital.
3. The Van Stolen From the Hospital Was Later Found by Investigators
A K9 officer searching for the escaped inmate on Fresno Drive in the Ponderosa area.
Police located the van Moore is accused of stealing from the hospital late Wednesday night on Fresno Drive off of Santa Fe Drive in Fayetteville, WNCN-TV reports. It had been abandoned with the Taser and a cell phone belonging to the woman who owns the van inside, police said.
A K-9 team was brought in to search the area, but Moore was not located, according to police.
“Right now, we’re sitting in the same place we were at 10 p.m. last night. He is a dangerous person,” Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Sean Swain said.
4. Moore Was Arrested on Several Felony Robbery & Weapons Charges Just Hours Before His Escape
Moore was arrested about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on 10 felony charges, including robbery and weapons violations, the Fayetteville Observer reports.
His charges also include kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a weapon, the sheriff’s office said.
Details about the crimes he is accused of, and his prior record, were not immediately available.
Moore lives at 5007 Birch Road in Fayetteville, police said.
5. Police Say They Are Following Several Leads & Ask Anyone Who Sees Moore to Call 911
Police say they are following several leads and hope to locate Moore as soon as possible.
“It’s a very unfortunate situation, we’re making progress, we’ve recovered (the) van, woman’s cell phone, officer’s Taser, now just a matter of locating the prisoner,” Cumberland County Sergeant Sean Swain told WGHP-TV.
Anyone who sees Moore is asked to call 911 immediately, police said. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 910-323-1500.
