North Carolina manhunt ends with convicted murderer’s arrest

(NewsNation) — A convicted murderer who escaped prison transport earlier this week is back in police custody Friday morning after multiple law enforcement agencies executed an arrest operation in Kannapolis, North Carolina, according to a news release from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office.

FBI Charlotte SWAT agents, Kannapolis police and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police captured Ramone Jamarr Alston, 30, shortly before 2 a.m. ET on Friday at a Kannapolis hotel.

Alston, who escaped leg restraints from a Department of Adult Correction vehicle Tuesday while being transported from Bertie Correctional Institution to UNC Gastroenterology in Hillsborough to receive medical care, was taken into custody without incident.

He has been charged with felony escape from prison and will be placed in a high-security state prison unit, the release said.

Alleged accomplice arrested

Police also arrested Jacobia Crisp, a female acquaintance of Alston, in Alamance County in connection to Alston’s escape. Crisp has been charged with felony aiding and abetting a fugitive.

Alston will continue serving a life sentence in prison for the 2015 Christmas Day killing of 1-year-old Maleah Williams.

Records show Alston faced 13 different infractions in custody since 2019. They ranged from having a cellphone, drugs or cigarettes in his possession. The most recent infraction was possession of a cellphone in January.

Inside Ramone Jamarr Alston’s escape

Authorities say that around 7 a.m. Tuesday, Alston freed himself from leg restraints — which were designed to put pressure against the Achilles tendon to hinder movement — and jumped out of the transport van upon arrival at the hospital. He then ran into the adjacent woods.

“As soon as he put his foot on the ground, he took off running,” Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said during a Tuesday news conference.

Alston’s escape kicked off a massive ground search around the hospital facility in which he escaped. Hundreds of law enforcement agents participated in the search.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office originally offered a reward of $25,000 to anyone with information that led to Alston’s arrest. After a few days, the total reward was increased to $50,000.

NewsNation affiliate WNCN contributed to this report.