Manhunt for inmate who escaped from Richland County jail ends
A search has ended for an inmate who escaped from a jail in Columbia early Tuesday morning, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
At 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, Charles Kenneth Meador was caught in the parking lot of the Knights Inn on Bush River Road, near Exit 63 on Interstate 20, the sheriff’s department said. The sheriff’s department previously mistakenly said Meador was captured about 2 miles away from where he was actually found.
Richland County officials said Meador was taken back into custody by Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Information about how the escaped inmate was found was not available, and there was no word on his condition.
Meador, 38, escaped from the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center earlier in Tuesday morning, the sheriff’s department said. Meador was last seen at a 3 a.m. count of inmates, but was not found at the next count, according to the sheriff’s department.
After Meador’s escape, employees at the jail discovered that a hole had been cut through the perimeter fencing close to the wood line surrounding the facility, Richland County officials said.
Information about how Meador got to the perimeter fence was not available.
No injuries were reported in Meador’s escape, sheriff’s department spokesperson Veronica Hill told The State.
Meador had been held at the jail since an April 9 arrest, Hill said. Meador was charged with use of a vehicle without permission, grand larceny ($5,000 or more), and resisting arrest, according to Hill. He was also being held on a receiving stolen goods charge from Lexington County, jail records show.
Meador’s bond on the three Richland County charges was set at a combined $10,000, according to jail records.
There is no indication that Meador was armed, Hill said.
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This story was originally published July 11, 2023 at 8:21 AM.
