A Florida inmate managed to escape from a hospital last week by faking an injury and fleeing from custody because the deputy tasked with guarding him was suspected of sleeping on duty, according to authorities. Flagler County Deputy Tyrique Harper resigned before the start of a formal internal investigation into the escape of 29-year-old Anthony Romine from AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office stated that witnesses indicated Deputy Tyrique Harper was likely sleeping during the escape, and the inmate was not properly restrained as per policy. Harper was relieved of law enforcement duties immediately following the incident on July 27 while a preliminary review was conducted.
Anthony Romine, who was initially arrested on July 3 on various charges, including felony theft and counterfeiting, was taken to the hospital after claiming he fell. Investigators later discovered that he faked the injury to escape and return to Ohio, his home state.
After a seven-hour manhunt, a Flagler County Sheriff’s K-9 team located Romine in a wooded area near a gas station. Video footage shows the K-9 pulling Romine out from his hiding spot under foliage and underbrush.
Mark Strobridge, chief of staff of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, mentioned that Romine was captured without committing any additional crimes during his escape attempt. He emphasized that Sheriff Staly expects all deputies to adhere to office policies, including staying alert and not falling asleep while on duty.
Following Romine’s capture, additional charges of felony escape and battery on a law enforcement officer without violence were added to his list of charges. The Sheriff’s Office motto, “An Honor to Serve, A Duty to Protect,” was not upheld by Deputy Harper in this incident.
