Prisoner Escapes Atlantic County Jail

Search continues Wednesday for Shane Hopkins who escaped Tuesday night, officials say

Several police agencies were still on the hunt Wednesday morning for a prisoner who escaped a Mays Landing jail the night before.

Investigators say 38-year-old Shane Hopkins escaped the Atlantic County Jail on the 5000 block of Atlantic Avenue just after 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

Hopkins was serving a sentence for allegedly resisting arrest, eluding a police officer and burglary, according to police.

Authorities secured a five-mile radius around the jail and had police dogs searching the area. The jail was on lockdown immediately following the escape.

Hopkins is described as a white male with blue eyes standing at 5-foot-3-inches tall and weighing 135 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair.

Students at nearby Atlantic Cape County Community College received a text message late Tuesday that Hopkins could possibly be hiding out in the ball fields near Route 40 in Mays Landing. The college was on lock down and classes were cancelled. That lock down has been lifted and classes have resumed on the advice of the Hamilton Township Police Department.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday there was still no sign of Hopkins.

If anyone sees Hopkins they should call 911.


Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBCPhiladelphia.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, our mobile site and NBC Philadelphia. Sign up for our breaking news newsletter. And, get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIBREAKING to 639710 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)

Contact Us