Inmate captured after escape from jail

Eric James Pezely, 23, is facing charges of felony offender escape without force and burglary after he allegedly escaped custody while being transferred for a morning court hearing, Prince William County police reported Wednesday afternoon.

Around 6 a.m. Wednesday, police say Pezely `removed his handcuffs and escaped corrections staff, a police news release states.

He was captured about 2 1/2 hours later, after police say a resident saw the inmate jump a fence into the backyard of a residence in the 8700 block of Peabody Street, according to police.

He was apprehended in the front yard of the residence, police said.

Pezely was originally being held on the following charges: obscenity, providing false ID to police, contempt of court, possession of burglary tools, two counts of simple assault, two counts of burglary and two counts of vandalism, police said.

He is being held without bond and has a scheduled court date of Sept. 24.

Prince William County police, the jail staff, Manassas City police, the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office, the Fairfax County police helicopter and multiple police K-9’s from the city and county also assisted in the search. 

The escape is under investigation, police said.