A handcuffed 22-year-old Mitchell man eluded law enforcement for about an hour early Wednesday morning after escaping from the rear seat of a locked patrol car.
The incident began when four Mitchell police officers responded to a domestic disturbance at 901 W. Eighth St. and arrested Roderick Rouse for an alleged domestic simple assault. Rouse was handcuffed behind his back and placed in the rear of a patrol car, but apparently managed to shift his handcuffs to his front and squeeze through a small unlocked plastic window that divides the front and rear seats of the vehicle, according to Mitchell Police Detective Lt. Don Everson. Rouse fled on foot after escaping the patrol car.
"It's very unusual. Most people would not fit through that window," Everson said.
After five Mitchell police officers spent about an hour searching, Rouse was taken back into custody near his residence. In addition to domestic assault, Rouse was charged with first-degree escape, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, and interfering with emergency communications, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Police allege Rouse was intoxicated when the incident occurred.
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Rouse remains in custody at the Davison County Jail with bond set at $5,000. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
