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Officials Believe Georgia Prison Escapee Is Headed To Southland

LOS ANGELES (CBS) —  Officials theorize that a 20-year-old Army private who escaped from custody in Georgia Friday is headed to the Southland.

Daniel Brazelton was awaiting extradition to Los Angeles County on suspicion of raping a teenage girl.

Until Friday, Brazelton had been jailed in Hinesville, Ga.,  to face prosecution for allegedly raping a 15-year-old in December 2009, said Capt. Mike Parker of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

Brazelton, who is on active duty with the United States Army, was being removed to Fort Stewart for medical reasons Friday afternoon when he escaped from Army personnel, Parker said.

Brazelton, who was raised in Palmdale, "is wanted for the alleged rape of a minor and for escape," Parker said. "Sheriff's Special Victims investigators believe he is possibly armed with a handgun and is considered dangerous.

"He most likely is receiving help in evading law enforcement and may be attempting to return to Los Angeles County," the captain said. "If seen, the public is asked to call 911 and allow law enforcement to take him into custody."

The teen and her family have been notified that the suspect escaped and may be coming to the Los Angeles area, Parker said.

Brazelton is white and 5 feet 7 inches tall, with shortly cropped black hair and brown eyes. He was clean-shaven at the time he disappeared.

 (©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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