CAPTURED: Escaped Inmate Suspected of Stabbing Officer

UPDATE–Midlands law enforcement agencies work together to take down suspect.

COLUMBIA, S.C. WOLO) – South Carolina authorities have captured an escaped maximum-security inmate who’s suspected of stabbing a police officer.

Michael Allen Williamson, 47, escaped at around 8:50 p.m. Wednesday from McCormick Correctional Institution, Dexter Lee of the South Carolina Department of Corrections said.

Later that night, Columbia Police Department officials say a Officer Ashley Hardesty was responding to a shoplifting call was stabbed inside a Walmart store in Columbia, South Carolina, about 80 miles east of McCormick.

Williamson was caught in the area of Northside Baptist Church on Highway 378 in Lexington, according to Holbrook.

CAPTURED: Escaped Inmate Michael Williamson was picked up a short time ago and is in police custody pic.twitter.com/7otwbo6fiX

— SC Dept. Corrections (@SCDCNews) December 8, 2016

During a press conference, CPD Chief Holbrook said Hardesty is recovering well at home from her injuries.

Hardesty has been on the force since July 2015.

Williamson began serving a life sentence for armed robbery and assault and battery with intent to kill in 1997.

Several schools were on modified lockdown out of an abundance of precaution.

Check back for updates.

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