Escaped Inmate Apprehended by Police in Tacoma
Authorities captured an inmate who walked away from a work crew on Sunday afternoon near the Emerald Queen Casino.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Crime — General
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Police have apprehended Zaquai Zekia McCray, an inmate who escaped from a facility work crew in Tacoma on October 13, 2026. The inmate walked away from his supervision at 12:30 p.m. before being captured less than two hours later.
Why it matters
The capture of an escaped prisoner from a minimum security facility helps ensure public safety in the local area. Authorities moved quickly to locate the individual following the mid-day incident.
Zaquai Zekia McCray was serving time for Robbery 2 and Burglary 1 convictions with a release date set for September 2, 2029. He was successfully taken into custody by local police and Department of Corrections staff.
The players
Zaquai Zekia McCray
He is an inmate from the Cedar Creek Corrections Center who was convicted of Robbery 2 and Burglary 1.
Cedar Creek Corrections Center
This is a minimum security prison facility located in Littlerock.
The details
McCray walked away from a work crew assignment near the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma. Department of Corrections staff and local law enforcement coordinated the search that resulted in the inmate being apprehended at 2:06 p.m.
Timeline
12:30 p.m. on October 13, 2026: The inmate walked away from his work crew.
2:06 p.m. on October 13, 2026: Authorities confirmed the inmate was back in custody.
September 2, 2029: This was the original scheduled release date for the inmate.
Legal Context
This incident follows standard emergency response procedures established by the 2026 Washington State Department of Corrections escape protocols. The rapid apprehension of the inmate mirrors established patterns for maintaining security at state-managed work crews.
Residents in the area near the Emerald Queen Casino can return to their normal routines as the suspect is back in custody. No further security alerts were issued following the successful apprehension by police.
The takeaway
Inmates on work crews are subject to strict supervision, and any deviation triggers an immediate multi-agency response. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to help law enforcement maintain community security.
Further reading
For more information on local safety, visit the Crime — General section.
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