Authorities in Georgia have launched a statewide search for an escaped inmate, 52-year-old Timothy Shane, who fled custody after being taken from the Rockdale County Jail to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta for a medical evaluation. Deputies say Shane had attempted to take his own life and was transported to the hospital around 8 p.m. on November 30. Just after 1 a.m. on December 1, he allegedly escaped the facility, stole an SUV parked outside, and was later involved in a crash. After the accident, he fled on foot, reportedly barefoot and still wearing a hospital gown. The SUV’s owner also reported that a handgun inside the vehicle was missing, and deputies believe Shane may now be armed.
Shane was originally arrested on November 24 for a series of offenses allegedly committed the day before. According to jail records, he was first stopped for reckless driving; a subsequent search of his vehicle uncovered methamphetamine and a firearm, leading to additional charges. Shane, a convicted felon, was also charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and with felony fleeing and attempting to elude an officer for an earlier failed escape attempt. The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office said Shane has a history of fleeing and should be considered armed and dangerous. Multiple agencies are now assisting in the search. Records list Shane as a white male standing 5 feet 9 inches tall.
