Authorities were transporting Greg Lee Coats, a bail bondsman and an employee of Poindexter andAssociates, to the Public Safety Center Friday afternoon when he escaped from a deputy. Authorities say Coats, who washandcuffed behind his back, shoved Deputy M. Oakley and jumped over a wall andonto the sidewalk below, a drop of approximately 15 feet.
Authorities said Coats ran down Salisbury Street into Kimbrell's Furniture store. Luther Boyd, who was working at the store, said something did not seem right about the man when he walked in the store.
"He looked suspicious because his hands were behind his back almost like he was reaching for something, but he casually walked at a fast pace," he said.
Authorities say Coats ran through the furniture store, then along Fayetteville Street Mall. He ended up at the 5 West Building at Hargett Street, where authorities say he had previously worked.
"We were able to locate him. We got some information where he was seen on different floors. He was able to extract himself from his handcuffs and so he was able to blend in from the way he was dressed," said Ralph Stephenson, of the Wake County Sheriff's Office.
Coats had been arrested on charges offailure to pay child support and three counts of carrying concealedweapons. He now faces additional charges of assaulton a law enforcement officer, larceny, resisting, obstructing and delayinga law enforcement officer and escape.
Thirty-two Wake County deputies, along with the Raleigh Police Department, helped to recapture Coats.
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