Manhunt On for Ex-Army Reservist Who Climbed Basketball Hoop to Escape Detention Center

Two corrections officers have been placed on leave as officials investigate how James Morales escaped.

The search is on for a former Army reservist who managed to escape a Rhode Island detention center over the weekend.

James Morales, 35, fled the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls on Saturday. According to the warden, Morales climbed a basketball hoop during recreation time, cut through a fence and then climbed to the facility's roof, where he walked through razor wire before shimmying down the side of the building.

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Officials said video shows Morales making a break for it at about 7 p.m.

Warden Daniel Martin said more than three hours went by before Morales’ disappearance was discovered. The inmate reportedly used some sort of tool to cut through the facility's fencing. 

Two corrections officers have been placed on leave as authorities investigate the escape, WCVB reports

Police said they recovered a green Chevrolet Lumina stolen during the escape. With the help of police K-9s, authorities tracked Morales north to an I-95 overpass where bloody prison clothing was found.

From there, the trail went cold and police believe Morales got into a vehicle 

Morales was in custody for the alleged theft of 16 guns from the Lincoln Stoddard Army Reserve Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2015.

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He has an eagle tattoo on the left side of his neck and is bald. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about Morales is asked to call the United States Marshals Service at 1-800-336-0102.

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