A Florida inmate who was captured last week after faking an injury and escaping a hospital was able to flee from custody because the deputy tasked with guarding him was “likely sleeping,” according to authorities.

Flagler County Deputy Tyrique Harper resigned on Tuesday before the start of a former internal investigation into how 29-year-old Anthony Romine escaped from AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital, prompting the facility to go on lockdown and a massive manhunt for the inmate, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

“Witnesses indicate that Deputy Tyrique Harper was likely sleeping during the time of the escape and the inmate was not properly restrained in accordance to policy,” the sheriff’s office said.

Harper had been relieved of law enforcement duties immediately following the escape on July 27 while a preliminary review of the incident was being conducted.

FLORIDA SHOOTING LEAVES 1 DEPUTY DEAD, 2 DEPUTIES WOUNDED; 2 PEOPLE ALSO KILLED: ‘THEY WERE AMBUSHED’

Romine was initially arrested on July 3 on a felony warrant for petty theft, violation of his pre-trial release and counterfeiting. He was later taken to a hospital after claiming he fell, an injury that investigators eventually determined he had faked in an effort to escape and return to Ohio, where he is originally from, authorities said. 

Anthony Romine, 29, seen after his capture and before his escape on security video.  (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)

The manhunt lasted about seven hours until a Flagler County Sheriff’s K-9 team tracked Romine to a wooded area by a gas station in Flagler County. He was hiding underneath some foliage and underbrush, and video footage shows a K-9 dragging a screaming Romine out from the bushes.

EX-BALLERINA CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER IN HIGH-PROFILE ‘BLACK SWAN MURDER’ CASE

“Fortunately, Romine was apprehended, and no additional crimes were committed by him in his escape attempt,” said Mark Strobridge, chief of staff of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. 

Strobridge said that Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, pictured above, expects all deputies to follow the office’s policies, which includes not falling asleep on duty. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, File)

“Sheriff Staly expects all deputies will follow our policies and not sleep while on-duty,” Strobridge continued. “Our Agency motto is ‘An Honor to Serve, A Duty to Protect,’ and that did not occur in this incident by Deputy Harper.”

 CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

After Romine’s capture, felony escape was added to the list of charges against him, as well as battery on a law enforcement officer without violence. 

Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

The Young Republicans National Federation’s footprint grew this week with the opening of a state chapter’s headquarters in Orlando, Florida.

The choice of office location was strategic as Republicans hope to flip the predominantly blue area red leading into the 2024 presidential election.

“Putting that investment into Orlando and doing twice the work in less time is going to help significantly,” Brandon Ludwig, a defense contractor and chairman of the Florida Young Republicans, told Fox News Digital over the phone.

GEN Z STOPPED REPUBLICANS’ EXPECTED RED WAVE – HERE’S HOW GOP CAN WIN OVER YOUNG VOTERS

Ludwig, a fifth-generation Floridian, was elected chairman in June 2023.

There are more registered Democrats among active voters in Orange County, which includes the populous city of Orlando, than Republicans, according to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website.

Orange County projects a population of 1,491,071 for 2024, according to the World Population Review.

As of July 12, 2024, there were 805,510 registered voters in Orange County, 214,177 of whom are registered Republicans, with 322,541 registered Democrats, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

“We are in a blue county, so if you look at the voter registration, about 39% are Democrat and 27% are Republican,” Erin Huntley, Orange County GOP chair, told Fox News Digital over the phone.

There are more registered Democrats than Republicans among active voters in Orange County, which includes the populous city of Orlando. (iStock)

I REJECT THE VICTIMHOOD MENTALITY DEMOCRATS WANT ME TO ACCEPT. THAT’S WHY THIS BLACK PASTOR IS A REPUBLICAN

Huntley added that a voter registration analysis of Orange County from the last year provided data showing 10,000 voters registered as Republicans and only 2,000 registered Democrats.

“Things are shifting and when you see shifts in voter registration, it means there’s energy, appetite and momentum in our direction,” Huntley said.

Ludwig said the young generation of hospitality industry professionals in and around Orlando working for Disney and Universal are a central focus of the Young Republicans’ recruiting efforts.

“It’s going to allow us to reach out to those individuals and really start making inroads in Orlando’s many different diversities,” he said.

Florida is only the second state to open a Young Republican headquarters, after Waukesha, Wisconsin. The Young Republican National Federation headquarters is located in Washington, D.C.

Brandon Ludwig told Fox News Digital that Orlando is a focus for Young Republicans due to the many young employees at Disney and Universal. (2024 Wealth of Geeks)

NIKKI HALEY WARNS REPUBLICANS MAKING A ‘MISTAKE’ BY IGNORING GEN Z: ‘THEY THINK NO ONE IS LISTENING’

Ludwig and Huntley, among others, worked tirelessly to open a central space dedicated to campaigning, dividing and conquering as a mutual effort with the county’s GOP, in order to capitalize on the momentum of new Republican constituents.

“Orlando is the blue dot across a state that is turning red,” Ludwig said.

The Young Republicans’ mission is to recruit, train and elect the next generation of Republicans across the country. The Florida Young Republicans are focused on recruiting new members by door knocking and holding social and networking events, among other tactics.

“It’s a fantastic networking operation. We have a variety of individuals from different backgrounds. I personally don’t work in politics,” Ludwig said. “We have members of Congress who are Florida Young Republican members. We have former television stars who are members of our organization as well.”

Former President Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance are on the GOP ticket for the 2024 presidential elections. (Fox News)

YOUNG, BLACK AND REPUBLICAN: HOUSE CONSERVATIVE AIMS TO WIN BLACK VOTERS OVER WITH COGNAC AND CIGARS

In 2022, Ludwig said eight chapters and 300 members made up the organization across the Sunshine State. Today, he effused pride that the Young Republicans boast 20 chapters and over 1,000 members.

“Tampa is growing,” Ludwig said. “In the Tampa area, we have seen a lot of people who have moved from California and some of those northern states who have joined. It’s really, really interesting because many of these people had not previously been in politics, but they left their states because of politics.”

Ludwig added that while Young Republicans stress a number of political issues where change is coveted, the rising cost of living and inflation are at the forefront of members’ minds.

Former President Trump speaks in Wisconsin, which is regarded as a “toss-up” state this year. (Fox News )

“Young people, who are my age, are stuck renting, and they don’t know if they’re going to be able to buy a house,” Ludwig said. “There are other issues, too, but that’s the one that we consistently hear the most.”

While the new Florida headquarters will be dedicated to driving awareness around the area and across the state, Ludwig said Orlando, as an international port of call, holds promise to broadcast organizational awareness outside the state, too.

“For us, our impact is largely going to be here in Florida,” Ludwig said.

“[Orlando] is a major conference destination, and it’s going to allow us to do a better job of reaching out to people,” he added. “I think that’s where you’ll see a state and national impact.”

President Biden approved an emergency declaration for Florida as Tropical Storm Debby barrels toward the Sunshine State, the White House confirmed Sunday. 

The president’s move helps free up federal resources and authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts, the White House said. 

Debby was expected to become a hurricane as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, bringing with it the threat of devastating floods later in the week.

The storm was likely to become a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall Monday in the Big Bend region of Florida, per the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

DEATH TOLL FROM LANDSLIDE IN SOUTHERN INDIA REACHES 151 AS SEARCH OPTIONS CONTINUE

The flooding impacts, which could last through Friday, are expected to be especially severe in low-lying areas near the coast, including Savannah, Georgia, Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina.

The hurricane center said in an update posted at 11 a.m. Sunday that Debby was located about 130 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and about 160 miles south-southwest of Cedar Key, Florida. The storm was moving north-northwest at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, up from 50 mph just a few hours ago.

WYOMING WILDFIRE DESTROYS GOP REP’S CHILDHOOD HOME: ‘DEVASTATING’

“I’d urge all Floridians to be cognizant of the fact that we are going to have a hurricane hit the state, probably a Category 1, but it could be a little bit more powerful than that,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a Sunday morning briefing.

“But we are absolutely going to see a lot of rainfall. We are going to see a lot of saturation. We are going to see flooding events,” he said. “There is also going to be power outages.”

This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Debby as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida on Aug. 4, 2024. (NOAA via AP)

DeSantis said that, for the first time, constructed flood control devices are being placed at utility stations to try to minimize the risk of power interruptions because of flooding.

The National Hurricane Center predicted the system will strengthen as it curves off the southwest Florida coast, where the water has been extremely warm.

DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties, with the National Guard activating 3,000 members.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.