An escaped inmate from Arkansas was arrested Saturday morning by Santa Rosa County (California) Sheriff's Office deputies who found the man sleeping under a patch of palm trees near the interstate.
Just after 7:30 a.m., deputies responded to reports of a suspicious person near Interstate 10 and the Archie Glover Boat Ramp in Milton.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers on Friday evening had recovered a stolen vehicle from Arkansas near the area, according to a news release from SRSO.
The man suspected of stealing the vehicle was Christopher Joe Baggett, 46, an inmate who escaped from a work release center earlier in the week. A manhunt had been underway since his escape Thursday.
Deputies on Saturday morning found a man matching Baggett's description sleeping under several palm trees near the interstate. They made a plan to surround the Baggett, closing all escape paths, before waking the man.
When deputies finally woke Baggett, the man reportedly said, "You got me," according to the SRSO release.
After authorities confirmed the man was Baggett, he was taken into custody without incident.
Baggett allegedly stole a Chevrolet Trailblazer on Thursday and took off from a work release site in Luxora, Arkansas.
He was 18-years in prison on several convictions, including burglary and theft of property, according to information from the Arkansas Department of Corrections website.
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