Spokane Deputies Strip Off Clothes to Rescue Escaped Inmate

This story comes to us from WXLY TV in Spokane, Washington where deputies had to go on a manhunt to find an escaped prisoner. Darrell Smith, 39 was all set to appear in court on charges of alleged kidnapping and robbery. He faked an illness and said he needed to go back to jail. As the deputy was leading him to the patrol car outside the courthouse, Smith made a run for freedom.

Smith ran for several blocks and found a shed to hide out in, but it also held an old grain truck that just so happened to have the keys left in the ignition. Smith drove the truck approximately 20 miles to nearby Moses Lake, Washington. This is where Smith took the vehicle off road in a crazy 65 mph run that deputies described as a scene from Dukes of Hazzard.

Smith's venture took him up and down hills, but the final hill going into the lake is where he lodged the truck on the edge of the hill overlooking the lake. When deputies caught up with him he jumped from the hill into the lake. Smith ended up calling out for help as he was bobbing up and down in the water.

The two deputies involved in the chase stripped down and went to the rescue. Smith was pulled from the lake and thanked the deputies for saving his life. He was then transported to the local hospital to be checked out before being booked with additional felony charges.

Sgt. Ken Jones and Deputy Ryan Pitt are credited for saving Mr. Smith's life. I bet they never thought they would be going swimming in the middle of winter when they woke up in the morning!

Source:

KXLY News