A manhunt is underway after an inmate described as “extremely dangerous” by police escaped custody in a North Carolina hospital Wednesday night.
Edward Moore Jr., 39, fled the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center emergency department with a police officer’s Taser and carjacked a van to escape the scene around 6:30 p.m., reports ABC News.
Moore was in the custody of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office as he was being treated at the hospital for an undisclosed injury and was under the watch of a sheriff’s deputy at the time of his escape.
RELATED: A Week After Hospital Escape, Canadian Inmate Remains Loose
Police say Moore assaulted the deputy and stole his Taser before running through the hospital’s emergency room in an orange jumpsuit and leg shackles. Once out of the hospital, Moore stole a Buick van and left the scene.
More than 40 officers are assisting in the search of the Fayetteville area and the Fayetteville Police Department is asking residents with information on Moore’s location to call 911 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS.
Just after 8 p.m., police recovered the stolen van and found the Taser on Fresno Drive in Fayetteville.
“It’s a very unfortunate situation, we’re making progress, we’ve recovered van, woman’s cell phone, officer’s Taser, now just a matter of locating the prisoner,” said Cumberland County Sgt. Sean Swain.
WNCN.com reports that deputies believe Moore is receiving help to evade police.
Moore had been serving time in the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center after being convicted in multiple bank robberies.
Read Next: Healthcare Veteran Wastes No Time Making Her Presence Felt
