Corrections1 Staff
MOSES LAKE, Wash. — An inmate was rescued from drowning Monday morning after diving into a lake in an attempt to flee from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office in Moses Lake, Washington, the Columbia Basin Herald is reporting.
Darrell F. Smith, 39, escaped from a courthouse after breaking free from a chain of handcuffed inmates. Somehow, while still handcuffed, Smith was able to steal a large Ford dump truck without being recaptured before speeding south on state Route 17.
Police set off in pursuit, chasing the truck as it pushed down the highway at 50-60 mph.
The truck’s duel rear tires were able to pass unfazed through a spike strip as Smith blazed towards the 18-mile long bed of water known as Moses Lake. Yet as he approached the lake, for some reason Smith decided to abandon the road in exchange for a 45 degree slope that plummets down to the water.
Equally puzzling is how Smith was able to stop and abandon the vehicle from careening into the lake and jump from the cab as it balanced on the steep hill. He set off on foot.
When he reached the water’s edge, Smith took the plunge.
This was not a smart decision for the handcuffed man.
Minutes later, Sgt. Ken Jones and Deputy Rick Pitt were forced to enter the lake to rescue the floundering escapee as a sheriff’s marine officer threw him a life vest.
The water was cold and he risked hypothermia.
The soaking wet and rescued Smith was taken to Samaritan Healthcare for treatment and the sheriff’s office will prepare reports for the prosecutor’s office to determine charges.
Smith was originally arrested by Moses Lake police Saturday after an incident involving the kidnapping of a man who he allegedly forced to pay for his shopping spree.