Man back in custody after escaping while being transported back to prison

A Stroudsburg inmate is back in custody after he fled while being transported to the Monroe County Correctional Facility.

James Bock, 45, of Stroudsburg, faces charges of escape, and flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Detective Michael Kreischer of the Monroe County Office of the District Attorney:

At 1:45 p.m. Feb. 2, Kreischer met with Deputy Warden Joseph McCoy of the Monroe County Correctional Facility.

McCoy told Kreischer that an man who identified himself as an employee of Cove Forge Rehabilitation Facility arrived at the Monroe prison and provided the facility with the personal property of Bock, who was on furlough from the Monroe prison to Cove Forge Rehabilitation Facility in Williamsburg, by court orders dated Dec. 26, 2017, and Jan. 29, 2018, signed by Senior Judge Jerome P. Cheslock in Monroe County.

The orders granted Bock furlough, and upon successful completion of treatment, he could apply for parole; otherwise Bock is ordered to be returned to the custody of the Monroe prison.

McCoy said Bock was scheduled to be returned Feb. 2 from the Cove Forge facility.

The person advised that Bock had failed treatment attempts, and was being returned to the custody of the Monroe facility.

When approaching the facility on Route 33 near the Snydersville Exit in Hamilton Township, Bock jumped from the Cove Forge transportation vehicle and fled.

A phone call to Cove Forge Rehabilitation Facility said they had an incident and would not discuss details without another order of the court.

Kreischer was told a patient of Cove Forge had left the facility, and while en route to Monroe County, Bock fled.

State Police, Stroudsburg and Monroe County detectives responded to the facility, and state police at Stroudsburg began a search of the immediate area.

Monroe County detectives began an investigation and obtained a warrant from on-call District Judge Daniel Kresge.

Bock was known to be in the Stroudsburg area, and Stroud Area Regional Police Department were notified.

On Feb. 3, Stroud Area Regional Police Officers encountered Bock and took him into custody.

Bock was lodged at the Monroe County Correctional Facility and video arraigned.

Bail was set at $75,000 on the new charges.

Bock is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Feb. 16 before District Judge Dan Higgins.