Escaped Fremont County inmate found in Colorado Springs after near 12-hour manhunt
UPDATE: The U.S Marshals have released more details on how 45-year-old Kegan Vanvliet was apprehended late Friday night thanks to the help of a dozen law enforcement agencies, after he escaped from Fremont County Sheriff's custody.
According to U.S Marshals, Kegan Vanvliet escaped from the Fremont County jail around 1:00 p.m. on Friday, where he was being held on charges from the Canon City Police Department for attempted murder, possession of a dangerous weapon, prohibited use of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and domestic violence.
Members of the U.S Marshals Violent Offender Task Force, along with Colorado State Patrol, learned that Vanvliet, had made his way to Colorado Springs after escaping from the Fremont County Sheriffs office shortly before 3 p.m. on Friday.
Members of the unit used several leads hone in on Vanvliets’ location, and requested the assistance of CSPD Canine Officers, Unmanned Aerial Unit (UAS) Officers and a Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU) as well.
At approximately 12:30am on Saturday, A UAS Officer spotted Vanvliet walking in the 5800 block of North Nevada Ave in Colorado Springs off of I-25. As officers closed in, a TEU officer noticed Vanvliet was hiding.
When confronted Vanvliet began running. CSPD K9 Officer and his K9 Riggs began chasing after Vanvliet. The officer and K9 Riggs warned Vanvliet to stop, or he would be bit. Vanvliet then stopped running, and surrendered without any issues.
The U.S. Marshals Service would like to thank the Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Canon City Police Department, Otero County Sheriff’s Office, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Fountain Police Department, Colorado Department of Corrections, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Pueblo Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and joint cooperation in this investigation.
UPDATE: According to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, Kegan VanVliet is back in custody as of Saturday morning.
Booking records indicate Vanvliet was taken into custody by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
KRDO13 is working to get more information.
Original story:
FREMONT COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - The Fremont County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) is asking the public to be on the lookout for an escaped inmate.
The FCSO reported 45-year-old Kegan VanVliet had escaped Friday afternoon and said he was last seen on foot walking along U.S. Highway 50 at Justice Center Rd. in Canon City.
According to the FCSO, VanVliet is described as a white male, 6-foot tall, 175 pounds, with gray-blonde hair, and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans.
Throughout Friday afternoon, multiple agencies could be seen working alongside the Fremont County Sheriffs to find the escaped inmate, including Cañon City Police Department, Florence Police Department, and an Alamosa County Sheriffs K9 Unit.
Law enforcement were seen checking multiple neighborhoods for VanVliet along Mackenzie Avenue just off Highway 50, one street over from Justice Center Rd.
At one point mid-afternoon, a helicopter from an unknown agency arrived in the area to scan from above.
As of last update to this article at 11:10 p.m. on Friday, VanVliet had still not been found.
If you see VanVliet, do not approach him, but call 911 immediately.
