Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Two weeks of freedom could land a Fort Wayne man in prison for up to 20 years if he is convicted of escaping from custody in Kosciusko County.
Deandre Armour, 26, was taken into custody in Fort Wayne Monday night, two weeks after he fled from a Kosciusko County Jail officer who was transporting him to the hospital for treatment of an alleged increased heart rate and high blood pressure.
Armour was shackled and handcuffed when he was placed in a van before leaving the jail. During the trip to the hospital, Armour reportedly was bent over, acting as if he was in pain. However, it was at that time that Armour somehow was able to rid himself of the leg shackles.
When jail officer William Sherwin unlocked the door and started to open it after arriving at the hospital, Armour reportedly shoved open the van door and struck Sherwin with it. The still-handcuffed Armour then fled the area on foot.
Two local men were charged with aiding, inducing or causing an escape with bodily injury and aiding, inducing or causing an offense. Ronald Wayne Redden Jr., 24, of 1829 Nye St., Warsaw, and Cy Daniel Stump, 22, of 322 N. CR 900E, Pierceton, were arrested two days after the alleged escape. Officials said the two men had Armour meet them at a predetermined location near the hospital and then drove him to Fort Wayne.
Armour and Redden reportedly worked out the plan while the two were cellmates at KCJ.
Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said Armour was taken into custody without incident shortly before 3 a.m. at a Fort Wayne residence. Police received a tip as to Armour's whereabouts, Rovenstine said, and Armour was asleep when police arrived to arrest him on the Kosciusko County warrant for escape, a Class B felony, and battery on a law enforcement officer, a Class D felony. Sherwin reportedly suffered a bruise to the shoulder area from being struck by the van door.
Armour was expected to have his initial hearing on these charges this morning. A Class B felony is punishable by six to 20 years in prison and a Class D felony carries a range of six months to three years. He was being held in the KCJ while awaiting trial in Whitley County.
Armour is scheduled to go on trial in Whitley County on Wednesday for the July armed robbery of a Columbia City bank. Armour and several other men were apprehended near Pierceton shortly after the July 27 robbery. All of the other men involved in the robbery have pleaded guilty to charges against them.
