UPDATE: Men captured in Richmond County after escaping from Augusta Transitional Center

The Georgia Department of Corrections confirmed two Augusta Transitional Center residents were detained Thursday morning in Richmond County after escaping the center Wednesday night.

The GDOC identified the men as George Richard Carter Jr., 58, and Matthew Connelly, 30.

Carter is serving 10 years for burglary out of Clayton County with a maximum release date of October 2025, according to officials with the Department of Corrections. He has been incarcerated by the GDOC 10 times, beginning in 1986.

Connelly is serving five years for aggravated battery out of Bulloch County with a maximum release date of July 2026, according to officials.

Details released about escape

Just after 10:40 a.m. Thursday, Columbia County deputies received a license plate recognition alert for a black Toyota Tacoma that was related to two escaped inmates, Carter and Connelly, from the Georgia Department of Corrections, according to a news release from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

Carter and Connelly allegedly walked away from a work detail that was organized through the Augusta Transitional Center at about 9 p.m. Wednesday and the vehicle was reported stolen in Richmond County, according to the release.

A deputy spotted the vehicle traveling east on Washington Road at Davis Road Thursday morning and followed it to Shartom Drive in Richmond County, where additional Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Richmond County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshal's Service units met, according to the release.

A "felony take down" was performed, resulting in the driver, Carter, and the front passenger, Connelly, being taken into custody without incident, according to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. The vehicle and both detainees were turned over to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshal's Service.

While performing the "felony take down," Carter shifted the truck into reverse and it rolled into the front of a Columbia County deputy's patrol vehicle, according to the release. No one was injured and the patrol vehicle had minor front-end damage.

When asked about the incident, Richmond County sheriff's Lt. Caleb Lee noted in an email to The Chronicle, "Our office has not received any information."

It is unclear what additional charges the men will face in connection to the truck theft and escape.

This story will be updated as new information is available.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: UPDATE: Men captured in Richmond County after escaping from Augusta Transitional Center