A Florida inmate who was arrested last week after faking an injury to escape a hospital was able to escape custody because the deputy guarding him was “likely asleep,” authorities said.
Flagler County Deputy Tyriq Harper resigned Tuesday ahead of the start of an internal investigation into how suspect Anthony Romine, 29, escaped from AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital, leading to the facility being placed on lockdown and a massive manhunt for the suspect, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
“Witnesses indicated that Deputy Tyriq Harper was possibly asleep at the time of the escape and the inmate was not properly restrained per regulations,” the sheriff’s office said.
Harper was relieved of his law enforcement duties shortly after the July 27 escape, pending a preliminary investigation into the incident.
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Anthony Romine, 29, was arrested in a wooded area hours after faking an injury and escaping police custody at a Florida hospital. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
Romine was originally arrested on July 3 on charges of petty theft, violation of pretrial release and forgery. He was then taken to the hospital after claiming to have fallen, but investigators ultimately determined he faked the injury in order to flee and return to his native Ohio, authorities said.
Suspect Anthony Romine (29) is seen on security camera after his arrest and before his escape. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
The search lasted about seven hours, with the Flagler County Sheriff’s police dog team tracking Romine to a wooded area near a Flagler County gas station, where he was hiding under leaves and undergrowth and the dog was seen on video dragging a screaming Romine out of the brush.
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“Thankfully, Romine was arrested and no additional crimes were committed during his time at large,” said Chief Deputy Mark Strobridge with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Strobridge said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staley (pictured above) requires all deputies to follow the sheriff’s office’s policies, which include not falling asleep on duty. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, file)
“Sheriff Staley expects all deputies to follow our policies and not sleep on the job,” Strobridge continued. “Our agency’s motto is ‘Honor to Serve, Duty to Protect,’ and that was not carried out in this incident by Sheriff Harper.”
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After Romine was arrested, a charge of felony escape was added to the list of charges against him, in addition to assault on a police officer without violence.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
