(KTTS News) — The Polk County Sheriff arrested an inmate who escaped from custody while walking with other inmates to the Polk County Courthouse.

Charlotte Ward, 32, was on her way to court for an appearance chained to other inmates.

She managed to get her hand free and ran away from the Bolivar square.

The sheriff arrested her 45 minutes later, just after she broke into an apartment to steal some new clothes.

Press Release

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office apprehended an inmate who escaped from custody for a short time on Wednesday morning, Aug. 3.

Polk County Sheriff Danny Morrison found and arrested Charlotte Ward, a 32-year-old white female, at around 10:45 a.m. near South Pike Avenue and West Walnut Street in Bolivar.

She had been missing since around 10 a.m.

Polk County Jail corrections officers were walking Ward and other inmates to the Polk County Courthouse for court appearances on Wednesday morning.

Ward and the other inmates were chained together.

She slipped her hand from a handcuff and started running southwest, away from the Bolivar square.

Law enforcement found Ward’s orange jumpsuit, which was hidden in some weeds, so she was wearing white boxer shorts and a white T-shirt.

Ward had just broken into an apartment near South Pike Avenue and West Walnut Street to steal new clothes when Morrison found her.

Ward’s original charges include operating a motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility, failure to affix motor vehicle plates, peace disturbance, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and stealing of $750 or more.

She was held on $10,700 bond.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Bolivar Police Department officers and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers worked together to canvas the area.