TallPine
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Story about some folks who "got involved"
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/09/02/news/state/35-escapee.txt
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/09/02/news/state/35-escapee.txt
Residents detain jail escapee
By The Associated Press
MILES CITY - Area residents on Friday helped law enforcement officers capture a man facing a sexual-assault charge who escaped from the Custer County jail Wednesday night.
Two men spotted Devin S. Deming, 36, in a small barn just outside the city. One of the men had a handgun and held Deming at gunpoint until deputies arrived, said Custer County Sheriff Tony Harbaugh.
Landowner Jack McDaniel and a friend, Bill Raschow, were checking some outbuildings on McDaniel's property when they noticed some items out of place in a small barn. They got out of their vehicle to investigate.
"We could see a subject - it looked like a pile of rags - lying on the ground," McDaniel said. "I loaded my weapon, walked a little closer and hollered, and he jumped up and started to walk toward us. "I hollered, 'Stop, and lay down on your stomach,' " McDaniel said, to which Deming responded that he couldn't because his back was injured.
McDaniel said he responded, "It's gonna be a hell of a lot worse if you don't get down."
McDaniel handed a phone to Raschow, who dialed 911.
First to arrive were a local pilot and a deputy doing an aerial search.
"The deputy bails out of the plane and handcuffs the guy," McDaniel said.
Deming was searched for weapons and loaded into a county cruiser.
"They thanked us, and we took off," McDaniel said. "We were thirsty for coffee."
Deming was jailed on felony charges of aggravated assault, kidnapping, burglary and sexual assault on a minor.
An escape charge will be added, Harbaugh said.
Deming is accused of attacking a 12-year-old boy in June 2005 at a Miles City residence; he also faced a Sept. 11 trial on charges of attacking a 13-year-old girl in Miles City in December 2005.
Officials said Deming escaped at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday when another inmate, Thomas Conley, overpowered a guard.
The detention officer, whose name wasn't released, received six stitches to close an injury to his face.
Deming was a fugitive for about 36 hours.
McDaniel said he had thought about what he would do if he encountered Deming and was prepared to shoot him, if necessary.
"I knew they was after him, and I thought about all the women and kids in Miles City," he said. "I thought, 'If he comes after me, I'd do it.' "
Copyright © 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Published on Saturday, September 02, 2006.
Last modified on 9/2/2006 at 1:14 am
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