McClain County Escapee Found In Norman

Norman Police have found a McClain County inmate who escaped Monday morning while working in Purcell.

Just before 3 p.m., Taylor Brotherton, 28, was taken into custody near 24th Ave. SW and Brooks in Norman. He was reportedly found hiding underneath a trailer.

Brotherton and another trustee , 28, and Chase Clemons, 21 -- were working with other inmates at the McClain County Expo Center in Purcell around 9:45 a.m. when they stole a pickup truck and sped away. They'd been jailed on drug possession charges.

"Both were on simple possession, very low key type of crime, probably would have paid a small fine and been out. Now he's got problems, he has real problems," said McClain county sheriff Don Hewett.

The two inmates crashed the truck they stole into a fence in Norman, just south of Westheimer Airport. They jumped out and started running.

Police began searching neighborhoods in the area of 24th Ave. SW and Brooks. They caught Clemons within minutes, but Brotherton was still on the run. Brotherton was reportedly armed and tried to carjack someone, but was unsuccessful.

"We seen a truck crash through the fence and we saw cop cars coming this way and they asked if we seen someone in green pants," said Amber Pierce who lives nearby. "One cop car came and he told me I needed to get in the house and lock the door because they may be dangerous they may be armed."

Meanwhile, several schools in the area were placed on lockdown. Pierce said her sister at Alcott kept texting her saying they were told to stay in their classrooms, and weren't allowed to even use the bathroom. Her son was on lockdown at another elementary.

"I'm worried about my 5 year old being scared," said Pierce.

Norman Police did keep officers at Jackson Elementary, and Alcott and Whittier Middle schools.