The suspect, David Johnson, ran westbound into the woods at Ohio 122 and Union Road, according to Talbert House worker. He said Johnson was at the facility as part of a parole agreement.
Middletown officers and K9 unit tracked Johnson to a dumpster on the southside of the Days Inn parking lot on Commerce Drive, where Johnson was taken into custody. Johnson told officers he threw the cell phone off a bridge, but officers were able to retrieve it.
After he was checked out at Kettering Health Middletown, Johnson was booked into the city Jail and charged with escape and theft.
Talbert House in Turtle Creek Twp. is a community corrections program that is not a locked facility, but clients are monitored and leave only for sanctioned events such as doctor’s appointments, employment, probation or parole meeting, according to Teri Nau, vice president of community and donor relations. It is considered an AWAL if the person leaves in transport, she said.
“Talbert House is fully cooperating with officials, and we made a report. Safety and security is the number one issue for our clients and the community. So we are cooperating with law enforcement,” Nau said.
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