Wandering inmate is recaptured

A man who walked away from a road crew Tuesday is found across the state and arrested.

By JANE MEINHARDT

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 27, 2000

Freedom for Carl Newman lasted about 24 hours.

The Pinellas County Jail inmate was found at his wife's house in Indian River County on Wednesday, a day after he walked away from a road crew on Alt. U.S. 19 near Tarpon Springs.

Newman, 20, was arrested without incident by Indian River County sheriff's deputies about 1:30 p.m.

He was to be transported back to Pinellas County Jail and charged with escape, according to sheriff's Deputy Cal Dennie.

Authorities received a tip that Newman was headed to Indian River Shores near Vero Beach. After leaving the work detail, Newman took a bus to the town on Florida's east coast, Dennie said.

Newman, whose last address was 204 Peace Ridge Drive in Tarpon Springs, was sentenced March 14 to 364 days for violation of probation on convictions of auto theft and possession of marijuana.

He participated in a work release program that allows certain non-violent inmates to work for various cities and the county at jobs outside the jail. For each day an inmate works, a day is subtracted from the inmate's sentence.

Newman was working with a city of Dunedin road maintenance crew, picking up litter along Alt. U.S. 19 when he disappeared about 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dennie said.

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