'Little Houdini' Captured In Florida
Posted: 5:22 pm EDT March 16, 2009
Updated: 8:03 am EDT March 17, 2009

ATLANTA -- The man police called the "Little Houdini" and whose escape caused the lockdown of the Kennesaw State University campus in early March has been captured, Coffee County Tennessee Chief Investigator Doug Richardson confirmed to Channel 2 Action News.

Richardson said Chris Gay, 30, was captured in Polk County, Fla. early Monday morning. Coffee County deputies are on their way to Florida to pick him up, Richardson said.

Gay was being transported from Florida to Tennessee when he escaped from the officer transporting him March 3, leading to the shutdown of Kennesaw State University while police conducted a search.

Police said Gay, who was wanted in Coffee County, Tenn. on charges he stole a Wal-Mart truck, escaped when the deputy transporting him there from Orlando, Fla., stopped at a Waffle House.

Cobb County police spokesman Sgt. Dana Pierce said Gay apparently broke out of his restraints.

Police dubbed Gay "Little Houdini" because of past escape attempts.

In 2005 Gay broke out of a Nashville, Tenn. jail to visit his sick father. In 2007 he escaped from a prison van while shackled at the waist, hands and feet.

Two years ago Gay allegedly stole country singer Crystal Gayle's tour bus in Nashville. He drove it to Florida's Lakeland Speedway, where he claimed he was at the track to pick up NASCAR driver Tony Stewart.

A tour bus, a Wal-Mart Truck? What's next? Maybe a train????