Wake County deputies capture inmate who escaped from WakeMed Hospital

Wake County deputies have captured an inmate who escaped Tuesday night from WakeMed hospital in Raleigh.

Shortly after midnight, Wake County Sheriff’s deputies, with the assistance of the Raleigh Police Department and North Carolina State Highway Patrol, found Zaire Mclean and took him back into custody.

Mclean, 23, was arrested on Monday and charged with larceny of a firearm and possession of a firearm by felon. He was taken to the hospital on Tuesday and escaped around 8:32 p.m. from the WakeMed campus on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh. Court documents show Mclean committed the offense on Oct. 13 and was arrested on Monday.

He was wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs at the time of his escape. WRAL News is working to learn how the inmate was able to escape from WakeMed.

Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe said he accepts full responsibility for the mishap. He said the detention officer was by the inmate's side but said distractions and disruptions got “in the way” and he ran and the detention officer ran after him and then lost sight. They're now reviewing their policies.

Deputies were searching the area around Milburnie Road and Pear Trail Lane.

Mclean was eventually arrested on Calumet Drive in Raleigh.

On Thursday, Mclean's charges were upgraded to felony for escaping local jail. He was also charged with injury to personal property. He is being held at the Wake County Detention Center without bond.

Mclean was previously convicted of felony of obtain property by false pretense in 2020 for offenses in July of 2019. In that instance, Mclean illegally possessed an AR-15.

The investigation is ongoing.