Pennsylvania police capture an inmate who escaped from prison for more than a week

(Trends Wide) — Michael Burham, an inmate with survival skills who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison, was captured in a wooded area near Warren after more than a week on the run, authorities announced Saturday.

A Warren County official told Trends Wide that they are “setting up an isolation cell at the Warren County Jail” for Burham, but do not intend to hold him beyond Sunday. It is unknown where Burham will be transferred after that, but he will not be housed in the prison from which he escaped, authorities said.

Burham escaped from the Warren County jail in northwestern Pennsylvania shortly before midnight on July 6 using tied-up sheets and lifting himself up on exercise equipment, according to a county spokesman.

Authorities described him as a “dangerous” inmate with military experience and survival skills after his escape from the 140-capacity facility awaiting trial or sentenced to two years or less behind bars.

His capture came after Pennsylvania State Police received a call to their tip line Saturday from residents reporting “a suspicious person” before 4 p.m. Miami time in the Conowingo Township of Warren County, Lt. Col. George Bivens said during a news conference Saturday.

A married couple went outside to check on their dog after hearing the animal barking near the back of their property, Bivens said. They arrived in a golf cart, found Burham and asked him what he was doing there, Bivens said.

Burham, who was dirty and wearing his prison pants inside out, told the couple he was camping, Bivens said.

“The property owner recognized him, put his wife back in the golf cart and drove away so he could immediately contact us while Burham fled into the woods,” Bivens said.

Law enforcement, using police dogs, tracked him through the woods. Burham was taken into custody shortly before 6 p.m., according to authorities.

Law enforcement footage shows the moments after Burham’s capture. The inmate, who looked scruffy and wore a light-colored T-shirt and pants, had his hands behind his back and was flanked by nearly a dozen officers in camouflage clothing on a path in a wooded area.

Bivens described Burham’s appearance at the time of his capture as “tired and worn”, as well as dirty and wet.

During the weeklong search for the inmate, police found stockpiles of supplies, including clothing, food and other items, in a wooded area near the town of Warren that they said they believed Burham had used, authorities said Thursday.

Bivens described the inmate’s capture as “a huge relief.”

“We were worried that we would end up with a citizen injured in some way, or even one of the officers injured,” he said. “You’re always worried about things like that, so as long as that doesn’t happen, it’s a good day.”