Inmate fled wearing only socks and shackles

An inmate decked a detention deputy and ran off from a hospital wearing only socks and ankle shackles, the Polk county Sheriff's Office said. Bradley Norris, 20, was arrested minutes later, about 300 yards from the Lake Wales Hospital, the sheriff's office said. Norris was at the hospital for medical reasons and had been there since Friday with a detention deputy assigned to his room. He had been arrested on 10 counts of violation of probation, which included grand theft, burglary and trespassing.

At around 12:20 p.m., Norris asked detention Deputy Michelle Threatt if he could use the restroom, the sheriff's office said. Inmates at hospitals are secured to the hospital bed with handcuffs and shackles. Before Norris got up from the bed, Threatt shackled his ankles together, which is standard operating procedure.



When he got up from the bed, Norris attacked Threatt and hit her on the head, according to the sheriff's office. He then struggled with her, overpowered her and fled the room. He lost his hospital gown during the struggle and ran from the room wearing only socks and ankle shackles, the sheriff's office said. Threatt was bleeding profusely but chased after Norris through the hospital hallway and down three flights of stairs.

The Lake Wales Police Department and Polk County Sheriff's Office were contacted by radio. Norris was spotted 300 yards from the hospital at the Lake Wales Art Center and taken into custody, the sheriff's office said. The charges of escape and battery on a law enforcement officer are pending, the sheriff's office said.