Tennessee Fugitive Captured In Royal Oak Tried To Stab Officer With Syringe, Taken Down With Taser

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - Police in Royal Oak are releasing more details about the arrest of an escaped inmate from Tennessee who was captured over the weekend near the Arts, Beats & Eats festival.

Timothy England, 37, was arrested Friday in Royal Oak but because of the Labor Day weekend, it wasn't until Tuesday that police realized England was wanted for escaping custody in Tennessee on Aug. 30 while awaiting trial for bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Police say the incident that led to England's arrest began Friday evening when an officer observed him "acting suspiciously" in the McDonald's parking lot on 11 Mile Road and West Street. The officer watched as England entered a vehicle and attempted to inject himself with narcotics, according to police.

At that point, the officer approached the vehicle and attempted to remove England, but he "immediately resisted," police said. After a short struggle, England broke free of the officer and started to flee on foot. The officer quickly caught up, however, and another struggle ensued.

"During the struggle, England repeatedly attempted to stab the officer with his syringe," police said in a statement.

England was able to break free for a second time and tried running, but the officer caught him when he attempted to squeeze through a narrow gap in an alcove of the North Lafayette parking structure. Back up officers arrived and deployed a Taser, after which police say England gave up resisting and was taken into custody.

At the time of his arrest, police say England was completely uncooperative and refused to give any information on his identity. He was immediately hospitalized after his arrest with an unknown medical issue.

It was later discovered that England was in a vehicle stolen out of North Carolina on August 31, and was also in possession of a credit card stolen out of Virginia several hours later, according to police. In addition to narcotics, officers also found a realistic-looking toy handgun and a bank robbery note.

On Wednesday, England was arraigned in 44th District Court on charges of felonious assault on a police officer, possession of narcotics, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of a stolen credit. Bond was set at $100,000.

The Royal Oak Criminal Investigations Division, in conjunction with the FBI, is looking into other crimes England may have committed after his escape on August 30.

"There is no doubt in my mind that this dangerous individual was in Royal Oak to commit an act of violence. Since escaping from Tennessee authorities, he has been on a multi-state crime spree," Police Chief Corrigan O'Donohue said in a statement. "That crime spree came to an end in Royal Oak thanks to outstanding proactive police work."

England has an extensive criminal history, including: convictions for robbery, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, felony drug possession, auto theft, flee and elude, and contraband in a penal facility.

England is due back in court on August 20.