Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 2, 1993 TAG: 9306020079
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
James D. Dowdy, 24, of Alleghany Trailer Park in Merrimac, was serving 25 months for various traffic violations and driving while his operator's license was suspended, said Sheriff Ken Phipps.
Dowdy was last seen in the jail between 11 p.m. and midnight, said Capt. George "Butch" Keyes. He had been out of his cell doing some cleaning and "got too close to a door, I guess."
As a trusty, Dowdy had access to the outdoors and had worked outside the jail washing cars without any problem, Keyes said.
Phipps said he was discovered missing at bed check early Tuesday.
Members of the sheriff's office, including its newly formed tactical response team, spent the day combing the Merrimac-U.S. 460 area near the Christiansburg limits.
Acting on a tip, the team went to a home in the 3000 block of Ramble Road in Blacksburg. The property owner gave permission to search the house; Phipps said Dowdy was found in the basement under a mattress.
Early reports were that he had shed his orange jail clothes, was barefoot and wearing shorts and a jail-provided T-shirt. Later reports had him wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt.
Keyes said Dowdy apparently obtained a change of clothing at the trailer where his girlfriend was staying. He was there for a few hours and his father visited him there, Keyes said.
Authorities thought Dowdy was going to turn himself in Tuesday morning, but when deputies went to find him, he had left.
Dowdy faces a maximum sentence of 12 months for misdemeanor escape, Keyes said.
He said authorities learned Dowdy may have received word of domestic trouble and perhaps left the jail to remedy that.
Phipps said Dowdy gave no reason for the escape when he was found.
by CNB