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Authorities Capture Escaped Convict While Swimming in Price Lake To Elude Law Enforcement Thursday Afternoon

Watauga County Road Conditions posted this image on its Facebook page.
Image courtesy Watauga County Sheriff’s Office.

By Jesse Wood

July 3, 2014. Update: The escaped inmate was captured as of about 4:30 p.m. while swimming in Price Lake, according to Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman. While it was a hot afternoon, Hagaman said he wasn’t swimming for pleasure. He was swimming to elude capture.

Authorities are searching for an escaped inmate last seen on Old Turnpike Road, near Shull’s Mill Road, at 1 p.m.

He’s 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds, according to Sheriff Len Hagaman. He has brown hair, blue eyes and was wearing green pants and a gray or white shirt.

Citizens are advised to call 911, stay indoors and not approach the individual.

In a brief email, Hagaman said the inmate’s name was Michael Calloway and has longer hair now. He left his work detail crew on Old Turnpike Road.

Caldwell, 39, was convicted on numerous charges in Buncombe County more than a decade ago – including larceny of a motor vehicle, felony breaking and entering, assault on emergency personnel, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and more. Calloway’s incarceration term was 15 years and one month and his projected release date from the Caldwell Correctional Center was May 10, 2016, according to data on the N.C. Department of Public Safety offender page.

Just a couple days ago an inmate in Alexander County’s custody in Watauga County escaped near Old U.S. 421. He was captured hours later in Virginia.