Kidnapping suspect captured after escape from Truman Medical Center

Kansas City police apprehended an escaped prisoner Tuesday morning, more than seven hours after he got loose while at a Kansas City hospital.

In that time, the prisoner managed to flee about 30 blocks east of Truman Medical Center while wearing intact leg shackles. Police officers caught Willie Sanders II at about 7:30 a.m. near 27th Street and Askew Avenue.

Sanders, 25, escaped from the medical center at 2301 Holmes Road about 12:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Prisoners like Sanders, who are held at the Jackson County Detention Center, receive medical care at the Truman Medical Center on a contract basis.

Although a county detention center guard accompanied Sanders, he apparently got past the guard and left the hospital by way of a stairwell, according to Shane Kovac, a medical center spokesman. Hospital security notified county officials and Kansas City police.

No other patients, visitors or hospital staff members were in danger, Kovac said.

When police apprehended Sanders, he still was wearing regulation leg shackles that had not been damaged or modified, according to Sgt. Kari Thompson of the Kansas City Police Department.

Sanders was being held pending trial in three court cases, including one involving allegations of kidnapping, burglary, domestic assault and armed criminal action.

“We take public safety very seriously and we will do everything necessary to prevent a re-occurrence,” Jackson County officials said in a Tuesday statement.

Brian Burnes bburnes@kcstar.com and Robert A. Cronkleton, bcronkleton@kcstar.com

This story was originally published March 3, 2015 at 7:46 AM with the headline "Kidnapping suspect captured after escape from Truman Medical Center."