Escapee Caught, School Lockdowns Lifted In Annapolis: Police

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Officers caught the man who they said escaped police custody en route to a county jail Thursday afternoon in Annapolis.

The search sent all public schools in the Annapolis cluster on temporary lockdowns. All students were dismissed safely after the lockdowns lifted.

Officers identified the escapee as 22-year-old William Raynard Herold.

"He was located by Anne Arundel County Police Officers in the area of Bestgate Road and Annapolis Exchange," the Anne Arundel County Police Department said on Facebook. "Thank you to those who called in with tips and information."

The Annapolis Police Department announced its search for Herold at 11:56 a.m.

The Maryland State Police and the Anne Arundel County Police Department assisted in the search, which focused on a wooded area by the Annapolis Exchange near U.S. Route 50 and Bestgate Road. The helicopter from the Anne Arundel County Police Department also scoured the premises.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools put the Annapolis cluster on lockdown at 12:20 p.m.

The lockdown lifted at 1:05 p.m. for all schools except Monarch Annapolis, Germantown Elementary School, West Annapolis Elementary School, Phoenix Academy and Studio 39.

Authorities said they caught Herold at 1:44 p.m.

"There is no ongoing threat to the public," the Annapolis Police Department said on Facebook. "Thank you to those who called in with tips and information."

AACPS lifted the lockdown on the remaining schools at 1:50 p.m.

"All schools are now operating normally and those with students will dismiss at the normal times. Thank you," AACPS said on X, formerly known as Twitter.