Massachusetts

Prison escapee suspected in bank robbery attempt

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - This undated photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice shows James Morales, an inmate who escaped on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, from the Wyatt Correctional Center in Central Falls, R.I. Morales was being held in the Rhode Island detention center on charges that he stole 16 guns from a U.S. Army Reserve Center in Worcester. A Massachusetts state police spokesman said a man police believe was Morales attempted to rob a Bank of America in Cambridge, Mass. on Thursday morning, Jan. 5, 2017. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

This surveillance photo released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows a man who attempted to rob a Bank of America branch Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Cambridge, Mass. The FBI said the suspect resembles recently escaped federal prisoner James Morales, who escaped from the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, R.I., on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. (Federal Bureau of Investigation via AP) (The Associated Press)

This surveillance photo released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows a man who attempted to rob a Bank of America branch Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Cambridge, Mass. The FBI said the suspect resembles recently escaped federal prisoner James Morales, who escaped from the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, R.I., on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. (Federal Bureau of Investigation via AP) (The Associated Press)

Massachusetts state police say a massive search is underway in the Cambridge area after a man who escaped from a federal prison in Rhode Island allegedly attempted to rob a bank.

James Morales escaped Saturday from the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island.

A Massachusetts state police spokesman says a man police believe was Morales attempted to rob a Bank of America in Cambridge on Thursday morning.

Police are warning the public that if they see Morales, they should not approach him, but should call 911.

Morales is a former Army reservist who was being held at Wyatt on charges that he stole 16 guns from a U.S. Army Reserve Center in Worcester. He was also facing child rape charges in Massachusetts.