A 22-year-old Newton County man accused of escaping from a hospital and running down the street naked remained in jail Monday night.
John Carpenter faces a public indecency charge, as well obstruction and interference with government property charges, according to Newton County jail records.
Police were called to a Covington home Thursday morning after Carpenter was reported to be walking outside naked, possibly under the influence of drugs, the Newton Citizen reported. Officers transported Carpenter to the hospital for evaluation, but he apparently escaped from the emergency room with an IV still in his arm, the newspaper reported.
Officers tried to apprehend the naked man on U.S. 278 near the intersection with Mill Street, but he ran again.
“He began fighting and he is a very stout man and officers had to use their Tasers on three separate occasions,” Covington police spokesman Ken Malcom told the newspaper. “He attempted to dive through a window into the front seat of a police car and put it in drive. They were able to get in the car and pull him out. He tried it a second time and they pulled him out again. After several minutes, they were able to put handcuffs on him.”
Carpenter was restrained before being taken back to the hospital.
Carpenter is being held on $5,000 bond, jail records show.
About the Author
