Police: Floyd County escaped inmate recaptured
Authorities in Floyd County said they have recaptured a man who escaped from the Floyd County Courthouse Monday morning after an intensive, all-day manhunt.
Police said Dustin Cotton was recaptured around 10 p.m. in between Glen Milner Boulevard and the banks of the Etowah River. Authorities believe he had been hunkered down in that area most of the day and was later spotted.
“Someone saw a man run into the woods without a shirt and the cops showed up and there were dozens of police car here. And they were looking around standing, looking for him through the woods with flashlights. In about 10 to 15 minutes they found him,” said Michael Karakos who shot video of the immediate aftermath.
Law enforcement in Floyd County called the incident an anomaly because after going through 15 years’ worth of records and could not find a single incident involving an escaped inmate.
According to Rome police, Cotton escaped on foot from the Floyd County Courthouse Monday around 11:48 a.m. Police said he is not armed, but has had previous charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.
At some point, Cotton ditched his orange jumpsuit near the water, which prompted police to start patrolling the waterways.
Police said he has several tattoos, which include a spider web on his left leg among others.
“Those include tattoos on his neck which would be of Japanese symbols that say ‘heaven.’ He also has a tattoo on his right forearm of a dragon. His upper arm shoulder area has the Grim Repeer,” said Corporal Carrie Edge, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said they worked throughout the day following up several credible tips up to his recapture.
Cotton is back in the Floyd County Jail. It was not known late Monday when he is next scheduled to appear in court.
