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| Escaped Calif. inmate captured after hunt |
| By Oakland Tribune |
| Published: 01/12/2004 |
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A jail inmate with a history of violence who escaped from custody Thursday morning at Highland Hospital in Oakland, Calif. was captured just before midnight in San Leandro after a 13-hour manhunt. Alameda County Sheriff Charles C. Plummer was "very concerned" about the escape and on Friday personally ordered a complete review of the incident, according to sheriff's Lt. Jim Knudsen. Meanwhile, Lt. Dale Amaral said a clearer picture was emerging Friday about Dion Terrell's flight and his hours on the lam. Terrell, also known as Dion Parrell, was boarding an elevator on the third floor of the hospital at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday after a medical appointment when he reportedly broke loose from a sheriff's deputy, authorities said. He sprinted down a hallway, descended several flights of stairs and ran out of the hospital. The deputy pursued Terrell but was unable to catch him. Authorities believe that Terrell, 32, had faked a leg injury and, because he had one leg in a phony cast -- possibly obtained from another inmate -- his ankles had not been shackled. In addition, due to a wrist injury, only one of his arms was handcuffed to a waist chain. According to Amaral, Terrell claimed after his capture to have run from the hospital, jumped over several backyard fences, shed his red jail garb and changed into some clothing he found hanging on a clothesline. He also claimed to have conveniently found some pliers in the area that he used to cut his handcuff free from the waist chain, that he then pretended to be a jogger, hitched a ride for several blocks from a passing motorist, and then called his friends from a pay phone. Amaral said the account is implausible. "My belief is that he already had made arrangements for pickup prior to running out of the hospital," Amaral said. Terrell was arrested by sheriff's investigators at 11:45 p.m. Thursday after a short foot chase. Terrell was booked Friday on a no-bail felony escape charge. He had been in custody since June on charges of kidnapping, carjacking, making terrorist threats and false imprisonment. Authorities said he had been facing prosecution under the state's Three Strikes law, which could result in a life term. Sheriff's deputies also arrested five adults and a teenager -- all apparently friends of the escaped inmate -- on suspicion of helping Terrell elude authorities. |
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