A Detroit Lakes man made his first appearance Monday in Becker County District Court on a felony escape from custody charge.
Gregory Scott Smith, 48, of 1235 Richard Ave., Detroit Lakes, was charged with the felony after allegedly escaping from the Minimum Security Jail in Detroit Lakes around 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9.
According to the complaint, Smith left the facility without permission, via an emergency exit, while still wearing his orange jail attire. He ran away on foot after failing to steal a bicycle near the scene.
Tapes of his phone conversations prior to leaving the jail indicated that he was planning to meet someone at a specified location after his escape. Officers went to a private residence in Detroit Lakes and asked the owner inside whether Smith was there; she invited the officers inside and said that they could search the place because he wasn't there.
The officers noticed movement behind the couch in the living room, and observed a shoe and jeans sticking out from the man's hiding place. The officers ordered the man to come out, but Smith refused to do so until the officers said they would be bringing in a K-9 partner (i.e., police dog) to search if he did not.
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Smith's orange jail attire was found abandoned behind a building near the jail. He has been taken into custody at the Becker County Jail pending his next appearance at a Nov. 1 omnibus hearing. His bail has been set at $100,000 with conditions, or $200,000 without.
