An inmate who had escaped from a courthouse in Kamphaeng Phet province on Monday was arrested 15 hours later at his friend's house nearby, police said on Tuesday.
Jirawat Klangpakdee, 45, assaulted and injured a police officer, with help from a fellow prisoner, and broke out to care for his four-month-old baby.
The escaped convict was hiding at the house where his friend's wife resides. The house owner is serving time in prison on drug charges, police said.
A shop owner contacted police after Jirawat, who was still in prison uniform and leg shackles, came to her shop and asked for drinking water.
Jirawat confessed that he broke out of jail because he was worried about his four-month-old baby because his wife had also been arrested on drug charges.
He said he planned to collect money from his customers and give it to his relative who is currently taking care of the child.