Kegan VanVliet, 45, escaped from the Fremont County Detention Center at about 1 p.m., just hours before he was slated to make his initial court appearance.
Fremont County Undersheriff Derek Irvine in an email to the Daily Record on Monday said that because the case is an active investigation, he could not get into specifics.
However, he said officials believe a software/hardware issue contributed directly to the escape. They are awaiting a response from the jail's current vendor.
Currently, Irvine said staff adjustments have been made to the facility's booking area for visual observation and manual lock manipulation.
Cañon City police officers arrested VanVliet in the 300 block of North Raynolds late at night on June 5 after an hours-long search. He was held on suspicion of Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder in the First Degree, Possessing a Dangerous or Illegal Weapon, Possession of a Defaced Firearm, Defacing a Firearm, Prohibited use of a Weapon, Illegal Discharge of a Firearm, Possession of a Weapon by Previous Offender, Special Offender, Unlawful Distribution and Domestic Violence.
Fremont County jail escapee, accused of attempted murder, makes first court appearance
He was apprehended on June 8 in Colorado Springs by the U.S. Mashall's task force after a "massive, multi-agency manhunt" in southeast Colorado Friday evening.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the Colorado Violent Offender Task Force was already in the area after wrapping up another case when they quickly began requesting and coordinating resources from several agencies in the area.
Deputy U.S. Marshals based out of Colorado Springs, as well as COVOTF Task Force Officers from the Fountain Police Department, Otero County Sheriff's Office, Colorado Department of Corrections and Pueblo County Sheriff's Office began pursuing leads on VanVliet's whereabouts in the Cañon City area. Additional assistance was sought and provided by the Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Springs Police Department, Cañon City Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff's Office, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Pueblo Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Alamosa County Sheriff's Office.
Information obtained by investigators had them pursuing leads in Cañon City, Pueblo West and Colorado Springs. As the investigation progressed, the Colorado Springs Police Department's Tactical Enforcement Unit and K9 Units closed in on a lead that VanVliet was in north Colorado Springs near I-25 and North Nevada Avenue. Shortly after midnight, VanVliet was located by aerial surveillance support units in the 5800 block of North Nevada Avenue. CSPD TEU and K9 units located VanVliet in the area and took him into custody after a short foot pursuit where VanVliet again attempted to flee.
Vanvliet was transported by Colorado State Patrol Units and U.S. Marshals to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center where he was booked on the outstanding Fremont County arrest warrant for the escape.
VanVliet is back in custody at the Fremont County Detention Center.
During his first court appearance on Monday, Fremont County Judge Alexandra Robak noted VanVliet's "significant criminal history" including 13 failures to appear in the last five years; 12 felony convictions including two separate prior convictions for escape; 15 or more misdemeanor convictions including numerous convictions relating to controlled substances and other domestic violence-related convictions.
A risk assessment and bond-setting assistance tool indicates that on bond, VanVliet has a 54% likelihood of success; a 74% likelihood of public safety; and a 66% likelihood of court appearances.
Robak set bond at $500,000 cash only for VanVliet's initial cases and $100,000 cash only for the escape count.
Conditions of bond include no drugs or alcohol, monitored sobriety, relinquishment of a passport and GPS monitoring.
VanVliet is slated to appear for filing of charges on June 26.
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