Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
ENGLAND, Ark. — A man accused of leading police on a chase in Lonoke and Pulaski counties on Christmas morning escaped from the England jail Saturday evening and was captured about 2 1/2 hours later, police said.
John Michael Fryday, 18, of Bastrop, La., escaped from England’s jail about 8:30 p.m. after pretending to be ill, England Police Chief Herman Hutton said.
“When a jail officer opened up the door, he bolted,” Hutton said.
England police, along with Arkansas State Police troopers and England firefighters, fanned out in search of Fryday across the southwest part of the city, Hutton said. The police department sent e-mails and text messages to residents who had signed up for alerts, and a call from one resident helped officers narrow their search, Hutton said. At about 11 p.m., officers found Fryday in a back yard, hiding under a piece of carpet behind a shed, Hutton said.
A day earlier, Fryday, who was driving a pickup that had been reported stolen in Louisiana, led police on a chase from England to North Little Rock, where he jumped out of the truck, police said. He was arrested later Friday morning in England.
Fryday was being held in the England jail Sunday on charges of escape and trespassing, as well as charges related to the Christmas morning chase, Hutton said. Bail had not been set Sunday evening.
Copyright 2009 Little Rock Newspapers, Inc.