Rome inmate captured near Etowah river after escaping courthouse

ROME, Ga. (AP) – A Georgia inmate who escaped from the Floyd County Courthouse has been captured after a nearly 10-hour search by multiple law enforcement agencies.

News outlets report that 26-year-old Dustin Cotton was caught near the Etowah River around 10 p.m. on Monday.

Rome police Lt. Joseph Costolnick says Cotton ran from the courthouse around noon after asking to use the restroom and left his jail-issued orange shirt and leg shackles nearby. A witness told police a man who resembled Cotton was near the river.

Cotton was in court for armed robbery, aggravated assault, hijacking a motor vehicle, offensive weapon while committing a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charges. A judge was expected to sentence him to probation.

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