Eight federal prisoners being transported in a van operated by Federal Extradition Agency escaped July 30 near Ordway, Colorado. Two guards working for the private transport firm were driving nine prisoners across Colorado when they stopped to drop one prisoner off at the Crowley county sheriffs department. One guard took the prisoner inside and the other reportedly fell asleep in the van.

One of the prisoners, David Glick allegedly snatched the keys from the dozing guard and freed himself. He then stole two revolvers and a 12-guage shotgun, say authorities, woke the guard and told him to drive away.

The other guard was coming out of the sheriffs office when he saw the van pull away. He said his partner waved at him as the van sped off.

Seven of the eight escapees were caught within hours, not far from the van. Glick allegedly commandeered a pickup, drove it a short distance and abandoned it near a ranch where he forced the rancher to give him his best horse. The rancher told authorities that he last saw Glick, clad in chaps and a cowboy hat, stolen from him, riding into the sunset across the open prairie.

About 60 law enforcement personnel from Pueblo, Fremont, and Crowley counties; the Colorado state patrol; and the department of corrections searched through the night for Glick. He was captured just after sunrise by the Pueblo county SWAT team driving four wheel vehicles and deputies on horseback. Authorities say Glick tried to elude capture, but his horse was tired and he surrendered without a fight.

Theres going to be some interesting blowback over this one, said Crowley county undersheriff Jeffrey Keyes, who along with Crowley County and the CO Hwy Patrol later billed Federal Extradition Agency $17,000 for the manhunt.

Source: Rocky Mountain News