Marshals Now Leading Search For Escapee

Howard County police say the U.S. Marshals Service is now leading the search for the Wicomico County prisoner who escaped custody Friday during transfer to a Jessup psychiatric hospital.

Photos of escaped prisoner David Watson, $5000 reward, call 911 pic.twitter.com/jkCEv4TZxL — Howard County Police (@HCPDNews) April 29, 2017

While other agencies including Anne Arundel County police and Maryland State Police have assisted in the search, it's the marshals who will be leading it from here. With county police, they're offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the capture of David Watson.

Watson, 28, was being taken to Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center for a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation. Watson was serving a 106-year sentence in Delaware for shooting at police officers' homes. He faces similar charges in Wicomico County. He was picked up in Delaware on Thursday by Wicomico County authorities and spent the night in Wicomico County Detention Center before two prison guards took him to Jessup. When one guard opened the van door upon arrival, he pushed the guard over and ran into the woods. Handcuffs and a waist chain were found at the scene, and articles of clothing were found in the woods.

Police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said the prison guards told officers Watson was wearing leg shackles. In order to have taken off the sweatpants found in the woods, she said, he would have needed to remove those shackles as well.

Listen to a news conference from Howard County Police Spokeswoman Sherry Llwellyn:

Llewellyn said there have been no confirmed sightings of Watson, who now faces charges of escape and assault in Howard County. She said there have been no reports of break-ins, auto thefts or anything else suspicious that might indicate Watson's presence. Trains through the area, she said, run too fast for somebody to jump aboard.

Police say officers are visiting businesses in the Jessup area that may have been closed over the weekend, and are canvassing neighborhoods with flyers telling residents and others to check their properties, vehicles and video footage for sightings of anyone matching Watson's description.

He's said to be a white male, 5 foot eight inches tall and 150 pounds. He didn't have access to a weapon at the time of his escape. He has face tattoos between his eyes and under his right eye and a number of body tattoos, including "EVIL" on the back of his neck and "SIN" on his hand.

Police don't yet know if his escape was planned or impulsive. Anyone who sees Watson is asked to immediately call 911. General tips and information should be forwarded to the U.S. Marshals Service at 443-885-0923 or CAR.FTF@Maryland.gov.