Sex offender who escaped Austin psych hospital arrested in Houston

Inmate caught after escaping Austin facility

A sex offender who escaped an Austin psychiatric hospital is back in custody, according to the Grimes County Sheriff's Office.

HOUSTON - A sex offender who escaped an Austin psychiatric hospital is back in custody, according to the Grimes County Sheriff's Office.

McArthur Mathis had been on the run since escaping Austin’s Cross Creek Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital on May 28.

McArthur Mathis arrested

What we know:

McArthur Mathis was arrested just after 1:30 p.m. on June 3 in Houston, near I-45 and West Road, according to the Grimes County Sheriff's Office.

"He was tracked to that Petco company store in West Road 45, and there he was observed for a while and was taken into custody. He was surprised," said Sheriff Donald G. Sowell.

The arrest was made by the U.S. Marshal's Gulf Coast Violent Offenders & Fugitive Task Force.

Mathis is being transported to the Grimes County Jail.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Search for man who escaped Austin psych hospital

McArthur Mathis was taken to Austin’s Cross Creek Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital on May 21, and escaped on Wednesday night.

Sheriff Sowell thanked the media for their coverage, saying tips from the public helped land Mathis in custody.

"The coverage and tips to the local and other area Crime Stoppers was a factor in this arrest and getting Mathis returned to custody," he said.

"In the situation of having to transport these inmates, to get help for their alleged mental illness, it'd be comforting to know that they were in a locked-down facility, they're not going to be escaping like they did," Sowell added. 

What we don't know:

Details about the tips that led to Mathis' arrest and his whereabouts for the last week have not been disclosed.

The backstory:

McArthur Mathis was arrested by Grimes County Sheriff's Office on January 2 for several warrants out of Victoria, Texas, and additional charges in Grimes County, including unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, burglary and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury to a family member.

According to the sheriff’s office, Mathis was subjected to a mental health evaluation after he was found harming himself. He was taken to Austin’s Cross Creek Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital on May 21, and escaped on May 28.

"This one here allegedly kicked the door down and jumped the six-foot fence to know that that's the best security they have is not very comforting to me or any sheriff for that matter," said Sowell.

It is likely more charges will be pressed against Mathis in the coming days. 

Another inmate escape

The backstory:

The Sheriff said another Grimes County inmate did the same thing in March and escaped from a mental hospital in Houston. That man was recaptured within 23 hours. 

"He made a comment that he followed the suit of the first one and thought he could get an out of jail free card and try that tactic," said Sowell.

The Sheriff hopes he does not have to go through this again. 

"If I have to do it again, I'll have to look at another facility," said Sowell. "It's not going to be Houston or Austin, as we speak. I promise you that."