UPDATE JUNE 8 as of 6:00 a.m.:
by Brett Forrest
45-year-old Kegan Van Vliet, the escaped inmate from Fremont County Detention Center, was recaptured overnight in Colorado Springs, according to Fremont County Sheriff's Office (FCSO).
At 10 p.m. on Friday, June 7, members of the United States Marshall Service Colorado Violent Offender Task Force as well as Colorado State Patrol got information that a violent fugitive who had escaped custody was in Colorado Springs.
Members of the unit worked with several leads to narrow down Van Vliet's location and requested assistance from Colorado Springs Police Department Canine Officers, Unmanned Aerial Unit (UAS) officers and a Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU) Tac Team to help recapture Van Vilet.
At around 12:30 a.m., UAS Officer Campbell found Van Vliet walking along 5800 N Nevada Ave.
As the officer closed in, a TEU officer found Van Vliet hiding nearby.
When confronted by officers, Van Vliet took off running.
CSPD K9 Officer Lofgren and his Police K9 Riggs warned Van Vliet to stop running or he would be bitten.
Vanliet stopped running and obeyed all commands. Van Vliet was taken back into custody without additional force.
Fremont County booking records indicate Vanvliet was taken into custody at 2:30 a.m. early Saturday morning by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
The El Paso County Jail confirmed he was an inmate over the phone, but that he was not yet fully booked.
He's due in court at 6 p.m. on Saturday, according to jail records.
According to a Friday post from Fremont County Sheriff's Office, Vanvliet was being held on charges from the Canon City Police Department including criminal attempt/murder, possession of a dangerous weapon, prohibited use of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and domestic violence.
Multiple agencies, including FCSO, Canon City Police, U.S. Marshal's Service, and Fremont County Office of Emergency Management were involved in the search after Vanvliet escaped around 1 p.m. Friday.
A FCSO deputy couldn't provide additional details when reached by phone early Saturday morning other than to confirm he was back in custody.
This is the third inmate to escape from Fremont County Detention Center in a little over a year.
***END OF UPDATE***
The Fremont County Sheriff's office is asking for the public to be on the lookout for a man who escaped custody. That's according to a Fremont County Emergency Management Facebook post published Friday afternoon.
According to authorities, Kegan VanVliet was last seen along Justice Center Road in Cañon City headed towards Highway 50.
VanVliet is described as a white man who is 6 feet tall, 175 pounds, with gray-blonde hair, with blue eyes.
According to an inmate search database, VanVliet was being detained at the Fremont County Detention Center.
According to our news partner The Gazette, VanVliet does have a history of violent crime and was in custody for an attempted shooting with a rifle, at this time the Fremont County Sheriff's Office does not believe VanVliet is armed at this time.
News5 has reached out to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office to see what charges VanVliet was facing and is awaiting a response.
The Fremont County Sheriff's Office says if you see VanVliet do not approach him and call 911 immediately.
This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more.
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Two 14-year-olds arrested for a string of smash-and-grab burglaries in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Police (CSPD) have arrested two 14-year-old boys who they say are connected to several recent smash-and-grab burglaries. The teens were taken into custody on November 8 and are being held in the Zebulon Pike Youth Services Center.
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