PICKSTOWN - A man who fled while speaking with officers last week in Charles Mix County has been found.
Iran Rodriguez Santana was found Saturday morning in Yankton after he bought a cellphone charger at the local Wal-Mart and then called his family in Columbus, Nebraska, according to the Charles Mix County Sheriff's Office. Rodriguez Santana fled from officers last Tuesday.
At approximately 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, a Charles Mix County deputy assisted Rodriguez Santana, who was disoriented from traveling from Waterford, North Dakota to Columbus, Nebraska, in the ongoing snowstorm.
While the deputy was attempting to help Rodriguez Santana obtain a motel room in Pickstown, he took off running into the wilderness area of the North Point Recreation Wilderness Area.
The deputy followed Rodriguez Santana's tracks for a half-mile, but due to the severity of the snow storm, the deputy discontinued the search.
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Authorities said Rodriguez Santana had gotten into an abandoned camper that had blankets, and then Saturday "hitched a ride" to Yankton.
Prior to Rodriguez Santana fleeing, the deputy was having difficulty communicating, as Rodriguez Santana speaks little English, authorities said.
Rodriguez Santana is not facing any charges, according to Charles Mix County Sheriff Randy Thaler.
The Charles Mix County Office of Emergency Management also assisted in the search for Santana.
