Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 24, 1992 TAG: 9203240222
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Michael L. Ayers, 29, of Roanoke had been brought to Radford from the Roanoke County Jail for a hearing on charges of grand larceny, petty larceny and destruction of property.
Sheriff Bobby Farmer said Ayers escaped before his cases were heard by climbing through a ceiling and into another witness room, then breaking the glass out of a window.
Farmer said Ayers was captured about 10 minutes later by members of the city police and sheriff's department.
Ayers was the subject of a six-day police hunt in January by U.S. marshals and Town of Vinton, Bedford and Botetourt county authorities. He was wanted at the time in connection with several federal charges and grand larcenies in the Roanoke Valley.
He was indicted by a Bedford County grand jury earlier this month on two counts of breaking and entering and two counts of grand larceny. Ayers is accused of breaking into a Bedford County church, taking jewelry from a Bedford County home and stealing a car.
Radford Police Cmdr. Jonny Butler said police were notified of the escape and Ayers was recaptured by Sgt. J.F. Lawson and Detective Wayne Frye in the vicinity of Central Lumber at First and Bolling streets.
Farmer said charges are pending against Ayers for escape and destruction of city property. The hearing on the original charges was continued, Farmer said, and Ayers was returned to the Roanoke County Jail.
The room used to detain prisoners is not really secure for a holding cell, Farmer said, but is used because it is equipped with a commode, unlike other witness rooms.
"We need a better security room," Farmer said. "That's one thing we'd like to have."
Farmer said another inmate was in the room with Ayers but did not try to escape. Farmer said the escape was discovered minutes after it happened.
"We check on them about every five minutes," he said.
Ayers was able to get out of a pair of handcuffs, "and I don't know how," the sheriff said.
The handcuffs had not been recovered Monday afternoon.
by CNB