A 23-year-old escaped inmate, Chase Orput, was recaptured Tuesday afternoon after a 24-hour manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Authorities found Orput lying shirtless on railroad tracks near mile marker 21 on Interstate 80, approximately one mile from where he was last seen.
Key Developments:
- Orput walked away from a Washoe County Sheriff’s Office inmate work crew around 1:30 p.m. Monday.
- A citizen from a nearby business recognized Orput and alerted the Sparks Police Department, which deployed a drone to assist in the search.
- Orput was taken into custody around 1 p.m. Tuesday and evaluated by medical personnel before being returned to the Washoe County Detention Facility, where he faces additional escape charges.
Law Enforcement Response:
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Storey County Sheriff’s Office and Sparks Police, coordinated the search. Sheriff Darin Balaam praised the collaboration between agencies and the public’s role in the recapture. The drone provided aerial support, helping deputies locate Orput quickly.
Background:
Orput was last seen heading southwest while wearing a black-and-white striped inmate uniform. The multi-agency effort included overnight searches before his eventual capture. No further details on his escape or potential accomplices have been released.