18 Officers Capture Fugitive : Crime: Inmate who allegedly broke out of a sheriff’s van and killed a motorist in a carjacking is arrested in Compton.

Armed with shotguns, 18 law enforcement officials surrounded a Compton home early Tuesday and arrested a San Diego convict who had slipped from custody in a sheriff’s van a week ago, allegedly killing a passing motorist and escaping in his car.

Johnaton Sampson George, 34, surrendered without a struggle after running out the back door of a Compton home where he had been staying for three days. Ten officers aimed weapons at George as he stepped into the yard, Sgt. Ron Malachi said.

“After appraising the situation, he decided to surrender,” Malachi said. “He really didn’t have another option.”

Because the 6-foot, 240-pound George has an extensive criminal record that includes rape, burglary, lewd acts upon a child and three escapes from authorities, officers were worried that he would shoot it out with police.

As it happened, George was watching television with friends when two Compton officers knocked on the front door about 1:30 a.m. and said they were responding to a report of a domestic dispute.

George had been staying since Saturday at the home of Terry Lynn Smith, who told The Times on Tuesday that a mutual friend had described George as a man who was down on his luck and needed a place to stay.

Authorities said that nobody in the house knew of George’s criminal history and that he was a genial guest, doing chores, helping with housework and fixing faulty plumbing.

George escaped Oct. 5 in an incident that frightened San Diego residents and led to renewed scrutiny of how sheriff’s deputies transport prisoners. While being taken from a court appearance to a downtown jail, George allegedly slipped out of his handcuffs and waist chains and kicked open the door of the van in the tourist-filled Gaslamp Quarter.

Word of two previous escapes and countless warnings about George’s likelihood of escaping again never reached 58-year-old Deputy Lydia Werner, who was transporting George and another inmate Oct. 5.

Werner chased George for two blocks, caught up with him and tackled him. George allegedly pummeled Werner, took her gun and stopped a taxicab, pointing a gun at the driver, Mark McGee.

The two wrestled for control of the weapon, and McGee said George bit him in the face before getting away.

Still wielding the gun, George allegedly stopped another car, opened the door and fired a single shot at Michael (Mick) Champion, who had been out playing darts and watching “Monday Night Football” with a friend. Champion died of a gunshot wound to the head and George escaped in his car.

Platte reported from San Diego. Faris reported from Compton.