Man’s “minor” fib lands him in cold water | Crime

OPP, AL (WSFA) - A Georgiana man is in custody in Covington County after a bizarre turn of events that started with an underage drinking arrest and ended with a completely different identity.

Opp Police officers arrested 19-year-old Lajon Pate of Georgiana on Sunday, June 24 for an underage drinking charge and placed him in the Opp City Jail. Pate was unable to post bail for this arrest and was held over at the jail. Two days later Pate requested to see a doctor relating to a medical issue. Authorities transported him to the Opp Mizell Memorial Hospital Emergency Room.

Pate was seen by a doctor and was given prescriptions for an undisclosed medical issue. The officer who had accompanied Pate to the ER stepped out of the room briefly to speak with the doctor about the prescribed medication - that's when Pate made his next move.

Pate fled the hospital and was later apprehended, still wearing handcuffs, after he was found lying in a creek.

After he was taken in to custody for the second time, it was discovered that Pate had given a false identity at the time of his first arrest. His real name is Jermaine Pate, he's 26-years-old and therefore not actually a minor. He was originally wanted out of Butler County on an outstanding parole violation.

Pate is now charged with escape in the third degree and use of a false identity to obstruct justice, both of which are class C felonies. A "hold" has been placed on Pate relating to his probation violation out of Butler County.