GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - A Florida prisoner being flown to Nevada has escaped in the Dallas area after stabbing one of his police escorts.

Grapevine police Lt. Barry Bowling says officers Tuesday searched for 42-year-old Alberto Morales, who'd been held on assault, kidnapping, burglary and sexual assault charges.

Two Miami-Dade Police officers were escorting Morales to Las Vegas when they had a layover Monday night at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Bowling says Morales was disruptive on the flight so the officers rented a vehicle to drive to Las Vegas, nearly 1,200 miles away.

Bowling says Morales had a sharp object and stabbed one officer several times when the other went into a store. The wounded officer is in stable but critical condition. His name hasn't been released.

Further details weren't immediately available.

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