A Magna man being held in the Tooele County Detention Center briefly escaped Monday afternoon after he slipped away while at a doctor’s appointment.
Michael Lee Richards, 42, was being held on violation of a pretrial protective order, a third-degree felony, which occurred on June 23, according to court records.
Richards had been authorized by 3rd District Court Judge Robert Adkins on Aug. 2 to go to a doctor’s appointment at Northpointe Medical Park in Tooele. Adkins stipulated Richards could only go accompanied by a family member one hour before the appointment and was to return immediately afterward, court records said.
After being transported to the doctor’s appointment by his mother at noon, Richards got up to use the restroom and didn’t come back for an extended period of time, according to Tooele County Sheriff Chief Deputy Brian White. After finding Richards had escaped, the sheriff’s office began contacting friends and family to locate him.
A Pine Canyon resident eventually provided a break in the case when they reported a suspicious-looking man in the area, White said. Richards was found around 2:20 p.m. in a field along Droubay Road heading in the direction of the Skretting fish food plant.
Deputies were able to apprehend Richards following a brief foot pursuit, White said. He was charged with additional offenses after his escape attempt, including absconding from custody, fleeing officers and resisting arrest.
The subject of the protective order was not contacted while Richards was on the run from police, according to White.
When prisoners are given a release for medical appointments or similar reasons, it is rare that they attempt to escape due to the additional charges they face when recaptured, White said.