A capital murder suspect who authorities said had been on the run since fleeing a Ouachita County sheriff's van Wednesday was captured without incident Monday afternoon by the Bryant Police Department.
Austin Hill, 20, was wearing nothing but a stolen jacket, socks and a pair of jail-issued boxer shorts when Bryant police arrested him just before noon near an Interstate 30 checkpoint that authorities set up after finding a stolen car that had been abandoned.
Hill was back in custody at the Ouachita County jail in Camden by late Monday afternoon, jail officials said.
Camden police said Hill had broken into the Donut Palace at 990 W. Washington St. in Camden and took water and food.
Police said they believe Hill also stole a 1962 Ford Galaxy early Monday morning from Woods Place Restaurant at 1137 Washington St., then drove to the Bryant area before the vehicle ran out of gas on an I-30 exit ramp.
A friend of the car's owner had reported seeing the vehicle in Bryant on Monday morning. A check of the Camden restaurant's surveillance footage showed Hill at the location before the vehicle was stolen, authorities said.
A search near the abandoned Galaxy began, and authorities arrested Hill at a nearby gas station a short time later.
It wasn't known Monday afternoon why Hill was in Bryant. Hill had taken a jacket that had been inside the car and was wearing it when Bryant Police Chief Mark Kizer and another officer arrested him, authorities said.
"He didn't say anything, other than his name," Kizer said.
Hill was initially arrested Dec. 21 in the shooting death of Richard Anders, 63, the manager of Mac's Fresh Market in Camden. Hill was charged with capital murder and aggravated robbery in the case.
Police said Anders was walking to his vehicle in the Mac's Fresh Market parking lot about 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19 when Hill approached him and shot him once in the chest. Hill took a bag containing about $13,000 and fled, police said.
Anders died at Ouachita County Medical Center.
Jaquestin Anderson, 19, of Camden surrendered to police Dec. 24 and also was charged with aggravated robbery and capital murder in Anders' death.
Anderson remains in jail. Both Anderson and Hill are awaiting trial.
Ouachita County Sheriff David Norwood said Hill's escape was aided heavily by "human error" by his office. Jailers were returning Hill to the Ouachita County jail from a hospital after he received treatment for a wrist injury sustained in an altercation earlier that day, Norwood said.
Norwood said Hill was able to remove leg restraints and handcuffs during the van ride from the hospital to the jail, and the gate did not immediately close when the vehicle pulled into the jail.
Norwood added that he believes that someone may have smuggled a handcuff key into the jail using deodorant or some other object.
Once the van stopped at the jail, Hill quickly bolted into a nearby wooded area, which began a manhunt in Camden that lasted for nearly six days. Numerous law enforcement agencies were involved in the search, including the Camden Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Arkansas State Police, and the Ouachita and Union county sheriffs' offices, among others.
Norwood said he blames everyone at the sheriff's office, including himself, for Hill's escape.
"We are making changes right now to ensure that this doesn't happen again," Norwood said.
"For one, the door to the sally port will soon close automatically. It now closes manually. It wasn't closed soon enough when the van carrying Hill pulled into the jail. If it had, he would not have escaped."
The sheriff continued: "We have a lot of young, inexperienced jailers," the sheriff said. "It comes down to money. A lot of them want to move up to police officer jobs, and these jailer jobs just don't pay enough to attract experience."
During Hill's time on the run, nervous residents and business owners scrambled to find out any information they could on his whereabouts.
Social media lit up with rumors and tips, prompting Camden Mayor Marie Trisollini to issue a statement calling for calm.
On Monday afternoon, Trisollini praised residents for their "patience during this difficult time."
Camden resident R.J. Cooley said he hasn't had a decent night's sleep since Hill fled the jail.
"I am so thankful for everyone who helped bring this boy back into custody," Cooley said. "Lord knows what he may have done. I am just thankful no one was hurt. Our prayers were answered."
State Desk on 09/15/2015