WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A man is back in custody after police say he escaped from a transition house and hid at his girlfriend's home in Winter Haven.
According to officers, on Sept. 14, 35-year-old Erich Mueller escaped from The Transition House in Kissimmee. Police say Mueller had been in prison since 2020 for a 5-year sentence for several convictions, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of methamphetamine, carrying a concealed firearm and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
On Oct. 17, Winter Haven police reportedly got a tip from Crime Stoppers that Mueller could be hiding at a residence on Avenue N SE near 7th Street SE. Detectives reportedly surveilled the home and eventually saw Mueller leaving the home on foot toward 6th Steet SE.
Police said they stopped Mueller and arrested him for the active warrant for his escape.
Mueller's girlfriend, 32-year-old Alexandria Orrick, who lived at the home was reportedly seen getting into her car and starting to back out of the home's garage.
Officers said they stopped her and spoke with her. During the interview, she reportedly told detectives she knew Mueller had escaped and she was letting him stay at her home. She had not informed law enforcement of his whereabouts, police said.
She was arrested for harboring an escaped prisoner, a felony.
Both Mueller and Orrick were taken to the Polk County jail.