Trending Topics

Inmate escape convinces police to enforce handcuffing policy

Believed it was OK to not handcuff prisoners, but the double escape of the same man has them rethinking their policies

By C1 Staff

MAQUOKETA, Iowa — Jackson County deputies have been lax in handcuffing inmates when transporting them across the street from the jail to the courthouse, but that will change after the same inmate ran away twice.

QC Times reports that all Jackson County prisoners will now be handcuffed, regardless of the charge.

The policy change comes after Brandon Bodenhofer was being escorted from the courthouse to the jail and took off running. The deputy escorting him was not able to catch him.

Bodenhofer was originally captured after a short foot chase, when he ran away from authorities earlier in the morning. He was in the process of being arrested for stealing a car and had meth in his pocket.

“We screwed up,” said Sheriff Russ Kettmann.

“While not handcuffing prisoners may not have been right, we thought it was OK and didn’t have a problem. Things have changed.”

Bodenhofer is still on the loose but is not considered dangerous.