An Escambia County inmate who escaped from a hospital transportation van this afternoon in the vicinity of Davis Highway and Brent Lane in Pensacola has been apprehended by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.
The inmate, Richard Blevins, was at Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment and escaped while being transported back to the Escambia County Jail after being cleared from the hospital. At about 12:19 p.m., the transporting officer observed Blevins acting erratic and called for assistance. Blevins slipped out of combo restraints and escaped out of the rear of the van by pulling off the grate and kicking out the window.
The corrections officer pursued Blevins a short distance while backup was responding. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office immediately established a perimeter around the area and conducted a search. Blevins was apprehended at about 1:34 p.m. and was transported back to the Escambia County Jail.
Blevins was arrested Friday, April 22 on numerous drug charges. Additional charges from today's escape are pending.
Per policy, the two officers involved in the incident are on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
