LAWRENCE, KS (KCTV) -
Authorities in Lawrence apprehended Tuesday afternoon a convicted sex offender who was on the lam.
Deon Gregory Routt, 22, escaped from a private security firm that was transporting him from Virginia to Colorado. He was on the run for not quite 24 hours before he was caught at Memorial Stadium about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Officers had flooded the areas near where Routt escaped and his picture was shown to numerous residents. Neighborhoods, businesses and parks were searched.
Police in the Oread neighborhood saw Routt, who was then in different clothes. Officers gave pursuit. Routt suffered minor injuries during a two-block chase which concluded with his apprehension, police said.
Routt received medical treatment before he was booked into the Douglas County Jail.
"The Lawrence Police Department wishes to thank the members of the Lawrence community who assisted in providing information which helped lead to the capture of this individual, as well as other law enforcement who also provided support," according to a statement from Lawrence police.
Topeka-based Security Transport Services was transporting Routt from Virginia, where he had been arrested on a failure to register as a sex offender, to Colorado. Routt, a native of Colorado Springs, had been convicted of sexual assault involving a child under the age of 15.
The employees of the transport company stopped in Lawrence for dinner in the area of 23rd Street and Louisiana Avenue about 5:30 p.m. Monday.
"One prisoner was able to push past the person guarding them and he took off on foot," said Lawrence Sgt. Trent McKinley.
The Douglas County District Attorney's office said they dropped the escape charge against Routt so he could go ahead and face his more serious charge in Colorado.
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