Escaped Inmate Recaptured Just Outside Atlanta: Georgia officials

ATLANTA, GA -- State law enforcement officers officials recaptured an escaped inmate just outside Atlanta hours after he fled a work detail in Carrollton on Saturday, authorities said. Georgia Corrections officials conducted a massive search for 51-year-old John Leonardi. "Statewide lookout. Don't approach, call 911," the agency posted on Twitter Saturday.

In a follow-up tweet, officials said that Leonardi was last seen wearing state uniform pants and an orange shirt. (SIGN UP: For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. Or if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Leonardi was caught on Interstate 75 in McDonough, WAGA-TV reports. He was apprehended in a vehicle being driven by a woman. It is unclear if she is related to him.

Corrections officials didn't release any other details related to the incident.

Leonardi was jailed in January after he was driving a car and slammed head-on into a utility pole, according to the Telegraph at Macon. Authorities ran the plates and discovered that the car was stolen, resulting in Leonardi being taken into custody, the newspaper reports. He also reportedly has a New York address.

Image via Georgia Corrections / Twitter