Volusia County News

 

Daytona Beach -- Police used a "Code Red" call Tuesday to notify about 700 residents that they were searching for an escaped prisoner who jumped out of a work van while en route to the Tomoka Correctional Institute.

Demetrius A. Demons, 34, was serving a 30-year sentence for a second-degree murder conviction in Hillsborough County when he escaped just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, Florida Department of Correction records show.

 

Demons jumped out of the van -- which was headed back from a job site -- at North Adams Street and West International Speedway Boulevard and ran toward Oak Street, Daytona Beach police said.

 

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office used search dogs and the Air One helicopter to aid police in searching for Demons.

 

Authorities were still searching the area Tuesday night, officials said.

 

Anyone with information about Demons is asked to call the Daytona Beach Police Department at 386-671-5100, the Florida Department of Corrections at 1-850-922-6867 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS.

 

Kristen Reed, Erin Ailworth, Erika Hobbs and Jeff Libby of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report.