VANCOUVER, Wash., May 21 (UPI) -- A man who escaped from a Washington state prison was apprehended after he was spotted by a prison guard who was running late for work, police said.
Brandy Boyer said she was thankful she was running 10 minutes late for work early Saturday morning because she doubts she would have spotted David Daniel McElroy, 28, who had escaped sometime overnight. Boyer wasn't aware of the escape when she spotted McElroy but his prison-issued pants and shirt made him stand out, she said.
"The minute I saw him, I knew that has to be one of our guys," she said. "My gut instinct was to call up to work."
Upon calling she learned Larch Corrections Center had, indeed, noted an escaped inmate and prison guards were in the process of confirming who had escaped, The Columbian of Vancouver, Wash., said Monday. Boyer called 911 for police backup and a Vancouver, Wash., police officer and canine unit and Clark County Sheriff's deputy responded.
McElroy attempted to run from the officers but they found him hiding in some backyard blackberry bushes.
McElroy is serving time for burglary and drug possession.
Prison officials said they believe McElroy stood on a garbage can to scale a 10-foot fence and used a sheet and pillow to shield himself from the razor wire.
