Inmate captured: Prisoner escaped during transfer to Galveston Co. Sheriff's Office

LA MARQUE, TX (KTRK) -- An inmate who escaped early this morning is now back in La Marque police custody.

The suspect, Thomas Watson, 44, was located near a Walgreens pharmacy about a half-mile away from the jail.

Police say a tipster told them Watson was hiding out in a home near the police department. When Watson left to go to Walgreens, police moved in and arrested him in that business' parking lot.

Watson had been arrested at an area halfway house on a warrant for indecency with a child out of Montgomery County.

This morning, he was being transferred to the Galveston County Sheriff's Office at around 1:40 am when he was able to get away from the La Marque jail. According to the police at the La Marque Jail, one county sheriff's deputy and one La Marque officer were with Watson while he was being booked into jail.

An officer did chase Watson, but lost him.

La Marque Police Department Detective Sgt. Shawn Spruill said, "To be told as a victim that they escaped -- all that fear sets back in, so it's good to get him back in custody where he should be."

The La Marque officer who was on duty when Watson escaped is now the subject of an internal investigation.

Watson is expected to be charged with escape.