COVINGTON, Ga. — After an almost 90-minute ordeal that began Thursday afternoon, escaped Newton County inmate worker Tyler Morgan was apprehended with the help of a local resident. 

According to Caitlin Jett of the Newton County Sheriff's Office, a resident saw Morgan at an undisclosed location and held him at gunpoint until law enforcement arrived. He was then taken into custody by the Newton County Sheriff's Office.

Morgan, 36, escaped while working at the Covington Police Department facility on Harland Drive Thursday at around 5 p.m. 

He stole an unmarked gray Ford Crown Victoria patrol car from the Covington Police Department and initially made his way toward Brown Bridge Road, Jett said. That touched off an "all-hands-on-deck" situation where witnesses saw more than a dozen law enforcement vehicles in pursuit of Morgan. 

The search eventually centered on the Oak Hill area near Hwy. 212 in west Newton County before he was apprehended, Jett said.

“A citizen saw him and held him at gunpoint until law enforcement officials arrived,” she said.

Morgan was incarcerated for probation violation. The probation term was originally for burglary. He was booked on Jan. 27, 2023. 

By Friday, he was facing additional charges of Theft by Taking and Escape, according to Newton County Detention Center records.

"We want to thank GSP, Henry County PD and Covington PD for assisting us in this search," Jett said in a statement. "Additionally, we want to thank the community for getting involved and helping us catch him." 

News Editor Tom Spigolon contributed to this report.