Paulding County inmate captured in Mich.

Van Wert independent

PAULDING — A Paulding County Jail inmate who walked away from a medical furlough while in Bryan was recaptured Tuesday in Michigan.

J. Tucker Harman, 23, was apprehended at a residence a few miles south of the Mackinac Bridge, along with Mariah Beedle, also 23, on a warrant for escape, a third-degree felony. The pair also had in their possession a car allegedly stolen in Indiana when arrested.

The vehicle had broken down on Interstate 75, when led to law enforcement officers being contacted — and to the pair’s subsequent arrest.

“The report I obtained early this morning from Cheboygan County authorities indicates Harman and Beedle initially provided false names to law enforcement,” said Paulding County Sheriff Jason K. Landers. “After the stolen vehicle was identified, the two eventually gave their true names and were arrested without incident.”

Both Harman and Beedle are being held on local charges in Michigan, but Sheriff Landers said he is seeking extradition of the pair to Paulding County once the Michigan charges have been dealt with.

Haman had been in the Paulding County Jail since October 6 following his indictment on a charge of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony offense.  According to the sheriff, Harman had left a note saying he would rather die a free man than go back to jail.