Authorities searching for man who escaped from work farm near Duluth; alleged accomplice arrested
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Authorities in northeastern Minnesota say they’re still looking for an inmate who walked away from a correctional facility near Duluth earlier this week — though they’re “moving from an active search to an ongoing investigation.”
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office also said Thursday that it has arrested an alleged accomplice in the escape of Michael Todd Hart from the Northeast Regional Corrections Center.
Hart, 40, left NERCC on Tuesday evening. He had been serving a sentence after being convicted on charges including domestic assault and interfering with a peace officer.
The sheriff’s office said it received multiple 911 calls on Wednesday reporting sightings of Hart in the area of U.S. Highway 53 and County Highway 8, about 4 miles from NERCC and about 15 miles northwest of Duluth.
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Search teams including K9 units, drones and an aircraft searched for Hart but were unable to find him amid “challenging heavily wooded and swampy terrain.”
“It is believed that Hart will try to make his way back to the Iron Range, where he has many friends, family and other associates,” the sheriff’s office said in an update Thursday. “Investigation to locate Hart and take him into custody is ongoing and will be coordinated with other agencies.”
The sheriff’s office said it detained two people who allegedly helped Hart in his escape — one who was arrested and was being held at the St. Louis County Jail on Thursday, pending formal charges of aiding an offender.
Hart is described as a white male, 5 foot, 10 inches tall and 169 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a yellow sweatshirt, grey T-shirt and blue pants. Anyone who sees Hart is asked to call 911, and not approach him.
NERCC is a minimum- to medium-security work farm that houses up to 144 inmates and provides vocational training.
