A 27-year-old Greensboro man is facing an additional criminal charge after authorities say he tried to escape while in custody at the Guilford County Detention Center.
According to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened on August 14 after Kurtis Asante was taken into custody by Greensboro police for misdemeanor second-degree trespassing around 4 p.m.
Attempted Escape Inside the Facility
After being transported to the detention center, Asante was placed in a holding cell in the law enforcement area while awaiting booking procedures, including fingerprinting and medical intake screening.
By 8 p.m., he had been moved from the holding cell to a designated seating area for newly arrested individuals. About an hour later, Asante got up and walked roughly 75 feet through the processing area before entering the pat search room through an unsecured door.
Once inside, authorities say he pressed the intercom button located at the secured door that leads back to the law enforcement area where he was previously held. Officials believe this was an attempt to gain access to a restricted section of the detention facility.
Swift Response from Detention Officers
The intercom immediately alerted staff at the booking desk that Asante was in an unauthorized area. Detention officers, including a supervising lieutenant, responded quickly and escorted him back to his assigned seat.
Officials clarified that Asante never reached an unsecured part of the building, never left the secured perimeter, and did not exit the detention center. He was later placed in a housing unit after being processed.
New Charge Added
Following the incident, Asante was charged with misdemeanor escape from a county or city confinement facility. He was later released on a $500 unsecured bond.
The sheriff’s office reported that a review is underway to determine whether further prosecution of the escape charge is necessary, given that Asante never left the secure portions of the facility.
