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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Eyewitness News has obtained surveillance footage showing inmate Nigel Sanders moments after his escape from custody following a court hearing on Thursday afternoon.
The video, shared with by a source, captures an inmate casually walking out of the jail intake center in downtown Houston, barefoot and wearing orange jail pants. No one stops or even notices him, highlighting a significant security lapse.
Sanders, 35, escaped custody while returning to jail after a court appearance, prompting a 12-hour manhunt. With a lengthy criminal history, he was recently charged with three burglaries and was in custody for those charges.
According to new documents, Sanders climbed through the ceiling of a tunnel before walking out of one of the entrances. These tunnels connect 1301 Franklin to all the jails, allowing inmates to travel to court without going outside. Typically, 50 to 60 inmates move through these tunnels for court hearings.
Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies revealed that not all inmates are escorted or handcuffed. The exact security measures in the tunnels remain unclear, but court documents highlight a serious issue. Sanders climbed through the tunnels’ drop ceiling from the secure side to the unsecured side. Investigators found orange slippers and other clothing along his escape route.
After walking out of the jail, Sanders approached an employee from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office who was sitting in her car in the sallyport. He allegedly threatened her with a knife and ordered her to get out of the vehicle. A struggle ensued, the car crashed, and Sanders fled on foot.
Sanders was eventually found hiding at his mother’s house in the 14000 block of Force Street around 3 a.m. on Friday. Both his mother and sister were also arrested.
Harris County Sheriff’s Office about their policies and the circumstances of the escape. A spokesperson stated, “All policies and procedures will be reviewed by investigators.”