Wanted man on lam from county jail nabbed
A Washington man on the lam from Washington County jail following a furlough in late June was taken into custody after a Washington County sheriff’s deputy spotted him on the deck of a Washington home Tuesday afternoon.
Akili Racheed Sutton, 35, of 240 Linn Ave., was wanted by the sheriff’s office on an escape charge after he failed to return from a furlough from the jail June 24. He is also wanted on a warrant from the county’s domestic relations office for reportedly being $78,000 in arrears in payments.
Deputies Ron Catrain Jr. and Ryan McWreath were in the area of Linn serving process paperwork when Catrain spotted Sutton on a rear deck at 240 Linn. The deputies knew he was wanted on the warrant and escape charge. They turned around the cruiser and saw Sutton run into the house through a back door.
When Catrain and McWreath went onto to the deck, they were greeted by a young girl.
“We could hear him yelling that he wasn’t here,” Catrain said. “When we asked the girl if he was there, she told us he was not there.”
Catrain went in the back of the house, clearing the kitchen and living room, and then opened the door for McWreath who had gone to the front of the residence. McWreath entered the home and the two waited for assistance from Washington police and another sheriff’s unit.
The deputies and officers went to the second floor, clearing rooms when Catrain spotted Sutton hiding in a bedroom closet. Catrain ordered Sutton to show his hands, but the 35-year-old refused to comply with numerous orders. He removed jackets to get a better view of the suspect. McWreath came to assist Catrain as both deputies struggled with Sutton. He was taken down by the deputies along with city police.
Sutton reportedly continued to refuse to comply with orders to put his hands behind his back and a Taser had to be used to take him into custody. City police removed his mother, who had also come into the room. Sutton was returned to jail on the domestic relations warrant. He is expected to be arraigned this week before District Judge Robert Redlinger on the escape charge for failure to return from the furlough. Deputies also will file charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct stemming from Tuesday’s incident.