Nasir Grant, one of two inmates who escaped from a Philadelphia prison earlier in the week, was captured Thursday night while dressed as a woman, federal authorities said. NBC10’s Randy Gyllenhaal reports on the arrest and search for the other escapee.
What to Know
- Authorities say they have captured one of two inmates who escaped Sunday night from a Philadelphia prison.
- A U.S. Marshals Service official says a fugitive task force was conducting surveillance in an area of North Philadelphia where they believed 24-year-old Nasir Grant was staying Thursday night and they saw him leave a residence dressed as a woman.
- Grant was stopped in a car nearby and arrested without incident. The search continues for Ameen Hurst.
One of two prisoners who escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center was captured Thursday night, officials said.
The U.S. Marshals captured Nasir Grant, 24, on the 2800 block of Dauphin Street. He was then taken to East Detectives in Philadelphia late Thursday.
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Robert Clark, a supervisory deputy with the Marshals Service Eastern District of Pennsylvania explained how the arrest came to be.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m., a man resembling Grant “came out of a residence wearing full female Muslim garb and a head covering,” Clark told journalists.
Grant got into a car and authorities followed it and stopped him nearby.
“I believe he was thoroughly surprised," Clark said, adding that Grant was taken into custody without any problem.
"He submitted to our commands, and it was pretty much an uneventful arrest, which is the way we like it,” Clark said.
On Friday, Grant was charged with escape, according to court records. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's office said they asked for no bail, however, a judge set bail at $10 million.
Court records don't name a public defender who could comment on Grant's behalf.
Police continue to search for accused killer Ameen Hurst, 18.
Grant and Hurst escaped from the prison on 8301 State Road around 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
It wasn't until a head count at 3 p.m. Monday when officials at the center realized Grant and Hurst had escaped more than 18 hours earlier, according to Philadelphia Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney. Surveillance video showed Grant and Hurst cutting a hole in the fence of the recreation yard and escaping Sunday evening, police said.
"I'm really angry about it. There is no reason for this. And if everybody followed through and do what they are supposed to do, we wouldn't have this problem," Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said during a Monday evening press conference. "Clearly the system screwed up and people didn't do what they are supposed to do. It's clear. But we want to find out exactly who, exactly how often, and what we have to do to make sure it's back up again."
The entire facility was placed on lockdown and all other inmates were accounted for, according to Carney. Philadelphia Police and U.S. Marshals were notified and are all involved in the investigation.
"We have ongoing perimeter patrols as well as campus patrols. Just to make sure that there are no additional incidents. But this is part of our investigation," Carney said.
Earlier Thursday, Xianni Stalling, 21, was arrested for allegedly helping Grant and Hurst escape the prison. She was charged with criminal conspiracy, hindering apprehension, escape and use of a communications facility.
Police believe Stalling was in communication with the two men while they were in prison.
A judge set bail at $500,000 for Xianni Stalling, though that ruling was being appealed by prosecutors who had sought $2 million bail. She was being represented by the public defender's office, which declined to comment.
Hurst and Grant were gone for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing.
Hurst had been charged with four counts of murder, while Grant was being held on conspiracy drug charges and conspiracy weapons charges. Officials have said the inmates were housed in the same unit, but different cells.
Officials are also investigating the Center's handling of the incident.
"As part of our investigation, I have reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to conduct a facility vulnerability assessment and security assessment as soon as possible that will help in our investigation to see any of our vulnerable points," Carney said.
Grant and Hurst were in the same unit at the facility but in different cells. Images obtained by NBC10 show workers on Tuesday assessing a hole in the outside fence where the prisoners escaped.
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Hurst is described as a Black male standing 6-feet and weighing around 140 pounds.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Service offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to each person’s arrest. Philadelphia Police also set up a reward for $20,000 for information leading to an arrest.
If you have any information on Hurst's whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS or 911. You can also contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-800-336-0102.
Grant had been admitted to the center on September 28, 2022, on criminal conspiracy, violation of the uniform firearms act and drug charges, officials said.
Hurst had been admitted to the center on March, 21, 2021, on four murder charges, including the deadly shooting of Rodney Hargrove outside the same facility back in March of 2021.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner also released a statement on the escape Tuesday afternoon.
"The DA’s Office is in contact with the families impacted by the homicides we allege were committed by Ameen Hurst, as well as witnesses who may be called to provide testimony at trial,” Krasner wrote. “The safety of victims and witnesses who may be at risk of intimidation or retaliation is of the highest importance to our prosecutors and to the DA’s Victim Support Services Division.”
The Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, which opened in 1986, has 13 housing units dividing an incarcerated population of adult men.
