A man charged with fleeing from police fled once again on Saturday afternoon from Piedmont Newton Hospital, according to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. On Monday, he remained on the run and investigators offered a $3,500 reward to help find him.
Kendrick Darnell Hurst, 34, was arrested on April 28 and also charged with terroristic threats and acts, willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, and countless traffic violations, the sheriff’s office said.
On Saturday, Hurst escaped custody while deputies attempted to transport him from the hospital to the jail, launching a massive manhunt, according to Sheriff Ezell Brown. Brown said he had been in touch with Hurst’s family members, who were cooperating with the investigation.
“I urge Mr. Hurst, if he’s listening, to do the right and surrender yourself peacefully,” Brown said.
Yesterday, Kendrick Hurst managed to escape from custody while in the process of being transported back to the Newton County Detention Center from Piedmont Newton Hospital. Upon immediate notification of the incident, Sheriff Ezell Brown, along with Newton County deputies and Covington Police Department officers, responded to the area. It was at this time individuals in the immediate area were notified of the incident. We had no reason to believe Mr. Hurst was an imminent threat to the community at the time of his escape, as his previous charges were domestic-related and traffic violations. Sheriff Brown extends his gratitude to the various law enforcement agencies involved in the efforts to locate Mr. Hurst, including the Covington Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, Conyers Police Department, Newton County Emergency Management Agency, Monroe Police Department, Georgia Department of Corrections, Porterdale Police Department, Oxford Police Department, and Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Their commitment to protecting our community does not go unnoticed. Sheriff Brown wants to address the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Hurst's escape. Rest assured, there is an ongoing internal investigation to determine if there were any failures in following protocol. As always, should any wrongdoing be discovered, appropriate action will be taken. To anyone with information regarding Mr. Hurst's whereabouts, Sheriff Brown urges you to come forward or call 911. Your assistance could be crucial in bringing this situation to an end. There is a $500 reward being offered for information leading to his arrest. Additionally, the U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $3,000 for information leading to his arrest. The Newton County Sheriff’s Office will make an update to the public as soon as there’s any new information to provide.
Posted by Newton County, GA Sheriff's Office on Sunday, May 5, 2024
Investigators said when he left the hospital, Hurst was wearing a bright, lime green jumpsuit. Hurst is 5′10″ and weighs 190 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has a lip piercing and facial tattoos, police said.
Late Sunday, the sheriff’s office said Hurst had been spotted in the area of City Pond Road in Covington wearing dark blue jeans, a red durag and no shirt.
“We had no reason to believe Mr. Hurst was an imminent threat to the community at the time of his escape, as his previous charges were domestic-related and traffic violations,” Ezell said in a video posted to Facebook on Sunday.
The sheriff’s office did not say how long Hurst had been in the hospital or why he was being treated. An investigation was underway to determine how Hurst was able to escape, Brown said.
“Rest assured, there is an ongoing internal investigation to determine if there were any failures in following protocol,” the sheriff said. “As always, should any wrongdoing be discovered, appropriate action will be taken.”
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Covington Police Department, Conyers Police Department, and...
Posted by Newton County, GA Sheriff's Office on Saturday, May 4, 2024
The Covington Police Department, Conyers Police Department, and Georgia State Patrol were assisting with the search for Hurst, along with other neighboring agencies.
The Newton sheriff’s office was offering a $500 reward and the U.S. Marshals Service an additional $3,000 for information leading to Hurst’s re-arrest.
According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Hurst was released from prison in October 2022 after serving nearly 14 years for a kidnapping conviction in Newton County.
Anyone with information on Hurst’s whereabouts is asked to call 911.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
