According to police, the clerk took Cotton’s money, gave him the bolt cutter, then called officers. Cotton, of Cooper, Texas, was apprehended minutes later and charged with escaping from Haynesville, La., police.
The Wal-Mart workers said that, after buying the bolt cutter Saturday morning, Cotton went into a bathroom and came out free of the handcuffs. Magnolia police arrived and spoke with Cotton before he fled into a field behind the store.
Police said they found the sliced handcuffs in Cotton’s pocket.
Cotton had initially been arrested by Haynesville police Friday night on charges of battery and possession of a narcotic. Officers there said Cotton kicked out a window while being placed in a police car and later fled when the officer stopped the car.
Cotton was being held Monday in the Columbia County jail.
Police did not know how Cotton traveled the 25 miles from Haynesville to Magnolia.
