A 24-year-old inmate who escaped custody at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence on Sunday, Oct. 18, has been captured, according to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
What happened
Deputies said Tyquan Rashon Shaw got away from custody late Sunday afternoon while at the hospital on Cheves Street. He was wearing green hospital scrubs at the time.
The escape led to a heavy law enforcement response at the hospital. Officers searched the building, and the hospital was placed on lockdown.
Maj. Michael Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office said Shaw was found after a thorough search of the hospital.
The sheriff’s office has not said how Shaw escaped, where in the hospital he was found, or why he was at the hospital.
Visitors locked out for hours
One visitor told WPDE he saw officers rushing past before the lockdown began, and that he and other visitors could not get back inside for close to two hours. He said emergency patients still appeared to be getting in.
Charges he was already facing
According to jail records, Shaw was arrested by Timmonsville police last week. He is awaiting trial on charges of:
- Failure to stop for a blue light
- Manufacturing or distributing cocaine base
- Driving under suspension
Those charges are still pending, and Shaw is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Deputies have not said whether Shaw will face additional charges related to the escape. He is being held at the Florence County Detention Center.
We’ll update this story if more information is released.
Source: Florence County Sheriff’s Office, as reported by WPDE
