An escaped prisoner from North Carolina was arrested early Saturday morning by Ocala police after he allegedly broke into a string of stores in the College Park Plaza and Colours Plaza shopping centers.
John E. Okdie, 58, of North Wilkesboro, N.C. was apprehended after a foot chase by police. Okdie was tackled and fell to the ground, leaving him with a golf-ball-sized bruise on his forehead. He was later transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center after complaining of injuries.
Okdie had tripped off an alarm at Coco’s Nail Salon on 3405 S.W. College Road. Investigation showed he had broken into several other stores.
Okdie had refused to give police his proper name. But they were able to determine that he had stolen a truck out of North Carolina and was a prison escapee.