NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — A man wanted on multiple felony charges was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after briefly escaping from police during transport, according to the North Charleston Police Department.
Police identified the suspect as D’Angelo Drayton, who is facing a series of serious charges, including armed robbery with a deadly weapon, second-degree burglary, first-degree burglary, two counts of grand larceny, and escape, authorities confirmed.
Officers with the department’s Gang Intervention Team were conducting operations in the Charleston Farms community when they observed Drayton leaving an apartment on Sumner Avenue carrying large bags and placing them into the trunk of a vehicle. Investigators said Drayton then reentered the apartment and later returned to load additional items into the vehicle.
According to police, a detective passing by the vehicle noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the trunk. When officers attempted to make contact, Drayton fled the scene on foot. After a brief chase, he was captured and placed into a patrol vehicle for transport.
While being handcuffed and transported to jail, Drayton reportedly managed to free one hand from the handcuffs, open the rear door of the patrol car, and flee — still wearing the restraints, according to jail records.
A Reverse 911 alert was issued to residents in the area of North Rhett Avenue and Remount Road as officers searched for the suspect. Police said Drayton was located shortly afterward in a nearby backyard and taken back into custody without further incident.
Dispatch confirmed that Drayton had active warrants from both North Charleston and Berkeley County.
He remains in custody as the charges against him move forward. Authorities have not released additional details about potential new charges related to the escape.
