'No Fight Left In Him': Trooper Tackles RI Fugitive James Morales [VIDEO]

MEDFORD, MA — Nearly a week after his escape from a Rhode Island prison and after a day-long search following an attempted bank robbery in Cambridge, fugitive James Morales was tackled by a trooper and taken into custody following a second attempted bank robbery in Somerville, according to Mass. State Police.

The local, state and federal law enforcement involved in the days-long manhunt gave an update on the arrest and search after officials say Morales scaled a basketball hoop and cut through wire fence to escape from a detention facility last Saturday.

Patch has video from that press conference, at the State Police Barracks in Medford. Watch here:

According to State Police, Trooper Joseph Merrick spotted Morales in the area of Route 28 and Mystic Avenue. When he ran, Merrick chased after him for about a quarter-mile and caught Morales as he was trying to jump a fence in the Foss Park neighborhood, State Police said. There, the trooper said, he tackled the suspect to the ground.

"It was a great job by everybody just to get him off the street," Trooper Merrick told reporters, commending the teamwork. "After the foot chase, I believe he was exhausted, so not much of a fight."

"No fight left in him," agreed Trooper Brendan Cain, who assisted in the arrest.

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Merrick said he did not believe Morales had a weapon on him at the time. Morales was easily identifiable once in custody due to a notable eagle tattoo on his neck, the trooper said.

In the course of the chase, investigators said, Morales dropped a motorcycle helmet and gloves. An investigation into those items is under way.

The arrest was made after Morales allegedly failed in his second attempted bank robbery of the day, this one at a Citizens Bank in Somerville, according to the mayor. Schools there had banned recess and other outdoor activities as a precaution during the manhunt.

Morales was booked at the State Police Barracks in Medford.

He will be held in federal custody at an undisclosed location for the time being, investigators said. Reporters were told he will not be returning to Wyatt Detention Center.

THE AFTERMATH: Wyatt Detention Center Puts Four on Administrative Leave After Inmate's Daring Escape

"I think that would be off the table at this point," one official said.

Morales is expected to appear in federal court Friday in Providence, Rhode Island, to face federal charges connected to his escape.

The arrest comes after another would-be bank robbery in Central Square earlier in the day that law enforcement now confirm was, indeed, attempted by Morales.

Cambridge Police said Thursday morning they were seeking a robbery suspect who passed a note to a teller at a Mass Ave. bank, later identified as Bank of America, Thursday morning. He did not manage to steal any money, police say.

Based on surveillance footage and the suspect description, the incident escalated into a full-fledged manhunt. CPD was soon working with Massachusetts State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI's Boston Division to investigate.

Morales, who has a previous address in Cambridge, also had connections to Somerville and Framingham, according to State Police. Framingham Police report he was spotted there on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day but had not been seen since.

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A former U.S. Army reservist, Morales escaped a federal prison in Rhode Island on New Year's Eve and is believed to have later stolen a car near Attleboro.

He was in custody for the theft of weapons from a federal armory in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2015 and was awaiting trial. He additionally has prior charges of aggravated rape of a child, rape of a child with force, and assault and battery of a child, State Police said.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Providence charged him with escaping from the Attorney General's custody. According to WPRI, he is facing up to five years in prison plus a $250,000 fine.

He will faces those charges in federal court Friday, according to officials.

Previously:

• 'Turn Yourself In,' Urge Officials as Escaped Inmate Added to Mass. Most Wanted List
• Police: 'No Reason to Believe' Fugitive Still in Framingham; 'No Proof That He Is Not'
• Escaped Inmate Reportedly Spotted in Framingham: Update

Wanted poster via Mass. State Police. Split image via Mass. State Police, FBI depict Morales (left) and bank robbery suspect (right)

Editor's Note: Patch has updated this story to correct the name of the Central Square bank involved in the attempted robbery. We have additionally updated this story to clarify that Morales has been charged with, not convicted of, aggravated rape of a child, rape of a child with force, and assault and battery of a child, per State Police.