A brief prison break in Winston-Salem ended almost as quickly as it started on Friday, when an inmate who slipped out of Forsyth Correctional Center in the morning was picked up just hours later at a home on Indiana Avenue. Officers with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction and the Winston-Salem Police Department arrested the man shortly after 3 p.m. and returned him to state custody. The department has opened an investigation into how the escape happened.
Who officials say he is
State officials identified the escaped inmate as 35-year-old Raymond Warren, who was serving a five-year sentence for two counts of larceny and was scheduled for release in 2028, according to ABC11.
Officials' description and images
Updated images and a physical description released by state corrections show Warren as a white man with tattoos over both eyes, including the name "Summer" over his right eye, and a cross tattooed on his cheek. He is described as about 5 feet 4 inches tall and roughly 160 pounds, per WWAY.
How he was located
Authorities say Warren ultimately gave himself away by knocking on the door of a home on Indiana Avenue, which led to his capture at the residence a short distance from the correctional center, according to ABC11. Winston-Salem police and state corrections officers took him into custody without reports of a public confrontation, and multiple agencies assisted in the search.
Charges and next steps
Warren is expected to be transferred to Central Prison in Raleigh and will face an additional felony escape charge as investigators with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction review the incident, per FOX San Antonio. Prosecutors will determine whether further charges are warranted after the department completes its investigation.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about Warren’s whereabouts at the time of the escape is asked to call 911 or contact Forsyth Correctional Center at 336-896-7041, the department said, per WWAY. Authorities urged residents not to approach someone they believe to be a wanted escapee and to report tips to local law enforcement.
