Published: November 07, 2007 11:58 am      

Jail Escape Short-lived

Garrett County authorities snag Frostburg man after he crashes stolen vehicle

OAKLAND - Authorities captured an 18-year-old Frostburg man Tuesday afternoon after his escape from the Garrett County Detention Center where he was serving 18 months for felony theft charges.

Ronald Dewain Smith Jr. was discovered missing from the lockup at 11:30 p.m. Monday, but he was caught after crashing a stolen vehicle while trying to flee from police, said Capt. Cynthia R. Smith, detention center administrator.

The crash occurred in the area of Blackhawk School Road, and police found Smith in the adjacent woods at 2:22 p.m. Tuesday, Smith said. Blackhawk School Road is located between New Germany and Dry Run roads.

"Smith was injured as a result of the escape," said Capt. Smith, who said blood was found at the window of a minimum-security housing unit on the north side of the detention center where Smith escaped. "There wasn't anything obvious in the cell," she said, adding that police believe Smith used his body to break the window he then used as an escape route.

Because he suffered hand lacerations during the escape, Capt. Smith said the inmate was treated at the scene by the Garrett County Sheriff's Office Tactical Medic. He was later taken to Garrett Memorial Hospital for further treatment of injuries police say are not life-threatening.

Following the shoeless escape Monday evening - Smith fled on his bare feet - another inmate quickly notified a correctional officer. That prompted an immediate search for Smith, who was wearing blue thermal underwear and jail-issued black-and-white striped trousers when he escaped. Garrett County Sheriff's deputies and a K-9 unit with Maryland State Police converged on the Oakland area.

At the same time, authorities began stopping vehicles leaving Oakland. About two hours after the escape occurred, state police attempted to stop a northbound Dodge Neon on state Route 495 in the area of Curts Corner at Swanton.

A brief police pursuit ended when that vehicle, occupied only by a male driver, crashed in the area of Route 495 and Dry Run Road. While the occupant fled before police could contact him, they believed Smith was the driver, Capt. Smith said.

Police later determined the vehicle was stolen from O'Brien Street in Mountain Lake Park. Initial reports indicate the vehicle was unlocked with ignition keys left inside at the time of the theft.

During the night, a ground search by the sheriff's office and state police continued in the Dry Run Road and Route 495 area. Maryland State Police Medevac helicopter took part in the search during the night and then returned at daybreak when weather conditions improved.

Although the Medevac crew helped most of Monday in the search, state police aviation division Sgt. H.B. Martz said an officer on the ground actually located Smith in the woods.

At the time of Smith's capture, the Woodland Tactical Team from the Natural Resources Police was en route to help with the hunt. Capt. Smith said that unit is trained to track people over rural terrain.

Smith was being held in the detention center after being sentenced Nov. 5 in Garrett County Circuit Court on a felony theft conviction. He was sentenced to five years in the Maryland Division of Correction with all but 18 months suspended and to be served in the detention center.

Following his capture, Smith was charged with escape, and additional charges are pending. Capt. Smith said the incident remains under investigation by the Garrett County Sheriff's Office Bureau of Investigation. "We'll investigate exactly what happened and how he escaped," she added.