LEXINGTON, N.C. — Update: Offender Johnny Porche has been captured and taken into custody Thursday night by the Madison County Sheriff's Office. He will face escape charges.
The NC Department of Correction is currently investigating the escape of inmate Johnny Porche.
State Correctional and local law enforcement are looking for 46-year-old Johnny Porche. According to police, Porche escaped the Davidson Correctional Center around 1:15 a.m. by jumping a fence and running away.
He was last seen wearing white kitchen pants, a green shirt jacket, grey t-shirt and one white New Balance high-top tennis shoe.
Police said an escape warrant is being prepared.
Porche was serving a more than three year sentence for felony breaking and entering, and a probation violation. He was scheduled to be released in February 2023.
According to inmate records, Porche has several previous convictions including involuntary manslaughter and manufacturing methamphetamines.
People who spoke to News 2 in Lexington said it's scary to know Porche is on the run.
"Well right now everybody is scared because they don't know what he's up to," said Robert Petteys, who has lived in Lexington for 30 years. "So (I'm making) sure I keep (...) my family safe at home and that's why I warned (them) not to sit outside because you don't know where this guy could be at."
Others said the community should step up if they know anything about Porche's whereabouts.
"If anybody knows anything about the situation, they should be willing to step up and help to be able to find or put that person back where they belong," said Marissa Perdue, a resident of Lexington. "Nobody should have to be worrying about (...) staying up, looking over their shoulder. Has he come to my house? Is he (going to) be stealing my stuff (...) people shouldn't have to do that."
If you have any information or see Johnny Porche, call 911 or the Davidson Correctional Institution at 336-249-7528.