Escaped Hall Co. inmate recaptured in metro Atlanta

GAINESVILLE - A Hall County inmate who escaped from the courthouse last Tuesday was caught Monday night in Dekalb County.

Hall County Deputy Chad Mann says 46-year-old James Edward Cantrell was spotted at a hotel in the Tucker area.

"Officers with the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force were actually able to determine that Cantrell was checked into a room using a false name," said Mann.

Mann said while those officers were conducting surveillance, they saw Cantrell walking in the lobby area of the hotel and were able to arrest him without incident.

Cantrell escaped Tuesday, July 17 as he and a group of inmates were being escorted from the Hall County Courthouse to a transport vehicle that was waiting to take the prisoners back to jail. Cantrell hid in an alcove outside the courthouse and then made his way to a nearby truck, which had the keys inside. The truck was found a day later in Atlanta.

Mann said the investigation is ongoing.