43-year-old Johnell Lee Carter was last seen several blocks away from Valley Medical Center, were he had overpowered a Sheriff’s Deputy in order to escape. Carter was arrested last year on five charges of child molestation, and has been in jail since his arrest. He escaped from the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where he had been taken for treatment, when he overpowered a sheriff’s deputy, and physically injuring a second deputy during his escape.
Carter is described as an African-American male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 220 pounds with a shaved head and the word “Alice” tattooed on his neck. He was wearing a jail-issued green shirt and pants, Sheriff’s Sgt. James Jensen said. It has since been learned that the tattoo actually says “Amy”. The name “Johnell Jr.” is also tattooed on his upper left arm.
The Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputy who was injured was transporting Carter to a medical appointment. Carter struggled with the deputy, eventually causing a shoulder injury. Air support and Canine units were deployed to try and track the suspect. However, he was able to flee the area without detection, and remained at large near the Campbell, San Jose border.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department is now heading up a multi-agency task force in order to locate and capture Carter. He had remained in custody since March 10, 2014, in the Santa Clara County Main Jail where he was booked on suspicion of child molestation after his arrest by the Campbell Police Department.
A 911 call to these San Jose apartments was most likely not due to Carter.
According to Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. James Jensen, “He should be considered dangerous. He’s not armed to our knowledge. If the public does see him, please call 911 immediately.”
San Jose Police were called to the Sierra Crest Villas apartments in San Jose, just around the corner from the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, after someone called 9-1-1 to report of a possible burglary. However, San Jose Police do not believe that Carter was at the apartment complex.
Sheriff’s Deputies are hoping to bring Carter back to jail peacefully. Cater was expected to go to trial in less than a month. It is expected that deputies will be able to successfully capture Carter and end the weekend long manhunt.
Anyone with information about the case or Carter’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 408-808-4500 or an anonymous tip line at 408-808-4431.
