Surveillance footage shows the moment an inmate escaped from a Colorado hospital despite being handcuffed.
The photo shows Ronald Collier, 38, running through the hallways of Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta on Thursday, 150 miles southeast of Denver.
It was taken seconds after he overpowered an officer and a security officer at the facility, before fleeing into the night, all while still tied up.
He was being held on local robbery and assault charges, area authorities said Friday, while officials from the neighboring sheriff’s office revealed that he allegedly fled in a stolen 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan.
Both warned that the suspect, last seen in handcuffs, should be considered “armed and dangerous,” and issued an alert warning that he is still at large. A search was launched and officials revealed that the car had a full tank of gas and a 9mm handgun under the driver’s seat.
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Surveillance footage shows the moment Ronald Collier, 38, escaped from the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in Colorado on Thursday, despite being handcuffed.
It was taken seconds after he overpowered an officer and a security officer at the facility, before fleeing into the night, all while still tied up. He was being held on local charges of robbery and assault, area authorities said as he continues the search.
“On April 11, 2024, at approximately 11:37 p.m., Ronald Caillier, 38, of Gillette, WY, escaped from Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center following an altercation with a transportation officer,” officials said Friday. from the Bent County Sheriff’s Office.
‘Caillier fled the emergency room scene wearing black and white striped pants and an orange T-shirt, despite being handcuffed with his hands in front of his body.
Caillier, who has ties to Colorado Springs, Greeley and Gillette, Wyoming, is believed to be in possession of a white 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan with Colorado license plate BFMW09.
“The vehicle has damage to the passenger side door and a broken rear passenger side window,” officials revealed.
‘The authorities suspect that the vehicle was stolen, since the keys were left inside.
“In addition, there was a 9mm pistol under the driver’s seat,” the statement revealed.
‘The public is advised that Caillier is considered armed and extremely dangerous. It is strongly recommended not to confront him if he is found out. “Instead, people are urged to contact local authorities immediately.”
The department’s alert was based just over ten miles from the facility and revealed that Caillier was being held on local charges of first-degree robbery and third-degree assault.
Seen here is the La Junta hospital, 150 miles southeast of Denver, from which he escaped.
In it, officials thanked the staff of the Otero County Sheriff’s Office and the La Junta Police Department, the two forces that oversee where Valley Regional resides.
Investigators also thanked the Bent County Sheriff’s Gang and Bent County deputies, thanking them for their help “in the initial search efforts,” which ultimately came up empty.
In an accompanying update broadcast shortly before, the Baca County Sheriff’s Office, stationed about two hours away, was the first to reveal that Collier had allegedly stolen a white minivan with Colorado license plate BFMW09, although it did not provide many more details. .
However, the department revealed that the alleged robbery occurred on April 11, the day of the escape, or in the early morning hours of April 12.
According to the sheriff’s office, which is located near the small town of Springfield, the truck had a full tank of gas, as well as a 9mm handgun hidden under the driver’s seat.
No other details were provided, such as the location of the theft for the owner of the stolen car, but investigators said the van has damage to the passenger side door as well as a passenger side rearview mirror.
Otero Sheriff’s Office Deputy Shawn Mobley told KKTV that the escape occurred around 11:39 p.m. Thursday and that officers from his force were “on the scene within minutes.”
Meanwhile, a deputy with the Otero Sheriff’s Office told KKTV that the escape occurred at 11:39 p.m. on Thursday and that deputies from their force arrived “on the scene within minutes.”
Since then, they have used a combination of dogs, drones, thermal scanners and other tracking technology to find the accused thief, Officer Shawn Mobley told the station, adding that he and others are “following a couple of leads from the community.” . , also.’
The agent and security guard attacked during the escape, he said, were treated for minor injuries and have since been released.
This incident is currently under investigation, and law enforcement authorities request that any information regarding Ronald Caillier’s whereabouts be reported to local authorities as soon as possible.
At the time of writing this article, he remains at large.