Police recapture suspect who escaped custody at Garden City Hospital

02:16

Inkster police have recaptured a suspect who escaped custody at Garden City Hospital Thursday.

Inkster Police Chief Tamika Jenkins said an inmate, 47-year-old Antonio Dewayne Hollingsworth, had complained of an illness and was transferred to Garden City Hospital by officers.

While Hollingsworth was in custody, handcuffed to a hospital bed, Jenkins said an officer who was guarding Hollingsworth left the room to use the bathroom while a nurse was in the room. According to Jenkins, when that officer returned to the room, Hollingsworth had gotten out of his handcuffs and had left the building.

He was last seen running eastbound away from the hospital, toward Inkster Road.

Jenkins said Hollingsworth was found near a CVS on Ford Road and Inkster Road. Witnesses told police that Hollingsworth had asked customers to use their cellphones in an effort to get a ride home. A clerk was able to identify Hollingsworth from photos that Inkster detectives had shown him and called 911.

The Inkster Police Department had taken Hollingsworth into custody in the aftermath of a fatal traffic crash involving a motorcyclist. He was taken to the hospital for treatment as he had complained of pain, authorities said.

Hollingsworth is a parole absconder, wanted for a robbery conviction, police said.

Jenkins said the police officer who was guarding Hollingsworth is a department veteran.

Inkster police are investigating how Hollingsworth was able to escape custody.

Julia Avant

contributed to this report.