Prison Inmate From Escambia (AL) County Escapes

February 7, 2017

An Alabama prison work release inmate convicted in Escambia County (AL) escaped from custody Tuesday morning.

Winston David Howell, 36, escaped from the Mobile Work Release Center about 11:18 a.m. He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket, colored shirt and dark pants. He is described as a white male, brown hair, brown eyes, 6-feet 1-inch tall and about 200 pounds.

Anyone that knows his whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or 911.

Howell was convicted in Escambia County on May 24, 2016,  for receiving stolen property first degree. He was sentenced to one year and seven months.

Howell was arrested in March 2016 after an Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped with a pickup truck that sitting along Highway 21 north of Fountain Prison to see if the driver needed assistance. After deputies determined the truck had been reported stolen in Mobile, Howell fled in the vehicle.

The deputy gave chase south toward Atmore. Upon reaching the city limits, the driver turned back north on Highway 21. He eventually turned onto Wayside Road, about five miles north of I-65, and ran off the the roadway a few hundred feet into an open field. The deputy fired at the truck in order to disable it, according to Chief Deputy Mile Lambert.

There were no injuries, and no one was struck by the gunfire.

NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Prison Inmate From Escambia (AL) County Escapes”

  1. Justice for Harley on February 14th, 2017 5:27 am

    He should have never been walking the streets in the first place. He should have been locked up back in 1999 when he drove around for hours with my cousins body in a car. I hope they throw the book at him when they catch him.

  2. Jim Grippe on February 8th, 2017 8:00 am

    The idiots let this guy out on work program wearing hunting gear ? Cmon man…

  3. Gary on February 7th, 2017 8:59 pm

    This guy is another stupid loser. People who run from the police as this moron did when arrested he should have never been placed on ‘ work release.’

  4. Lesley on February 7th, 2017 7:16 pm

    Prisoners wear camo jackets???

  5. No Excuses on February 7th, 2017 4:08 pm

    1 year, 7 months? I’d have just done the time and been done with it.

  6. mike on February 7th, 2017 3:34 pm

    Wow, who escapes from work release? Doesn’t work release mean you get out of prison or jail to go out & work, like a free man? He won’t get work release when they catch him, surely. Not to be negative or insulting, but I question this guy’s brain power. :(