TAMPA, Fla. — An inmate who escaped from jail early Monday morning and authorities warned that he might be heading to Tampa has been captured, confirmed the police.

What You Need To Know

  • Anthony Eugene Ward was captured, trying to flee from K9 team, authorities say

  • He was on an assigned job and listed as an "inmate trustee" before he escaped, authorities say

At around 6:15 a.m., Anthony Eugene Ward, 48, escaped from the Suwannee County Jail, stated the Tampa Police Department on its Facebook page.

However, the police department simply tweeted that he was captured. After his capture, the Suwannee County Jail posted details of how Ward escaped, authorities stated. 

Ward was assigned as an “Inmate Trustee” and walked away from an assigned job at the Suwannee County Jail on Monday morning, the sheriff’s office stated.

The Suwannee County Detention authorities alerted the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office and the area State Correctional Institution K9 Teams.

Law enforcement was alerted that someone observed a person matching Ward’s walking in the area of U.S. Highway 90 and 147th Road in Live Oak, Fla. That is when, according to the sheriff’s office’s Facebook post, Ward allegedly tried to flee.

“Inmate Ward attempted to flee from K9 Teams on foot but was no match for the K9 Team Bloodhounds,” the sheriff’s office stated, adding that he was captured on 153rd Road, just south of U.S. Highway 90.

The jail is three hours away from Tampa, the Tampa Police Department post stated, however, an officer with the police department stated that the Suwannee County Jail asked for the police department to post about Ward’s escape “out of concern.”

Ward was last seen wearing an all-brown prison uniform with brown boots.

According to the Suwannee County Jail site, Ward was booked on June 27, 2021, and faces three charges: Larceny, fraud and exploitation of the elderly.

His bond is $45,000.

Anyone who saw Ward was asked to call 911.


Anthony Eugene Ward. (Suwannee County Jail)