AUSTIN — The inmate who allegedly fled from a Mower County Courthouse earlier this month pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of escape from custody, which is a felony.

Dylan Leeper was in court on Sept. 4 for four cases before he managed to slip a hand out of his handcuffs and bolted through the building, knocking down a woman during his escape.

Mower County deputies along with Austin J. Swisher of Rochester’s Swisher Law Firm pursued Leeper and caught up to him in the parking lot south of the jail where he was apprehended.

Leeper’s most recent pending court case stemmed from charges he allegedly stole from and beat a pizza driver with a metal baton July 31.

Leeper is also on probation for allegedly stealing cars and getting into several accidents in southwest Austin earlier this year. He has also been charged with shoplifting in another case.

Jailers will now transport inmates using leg irons in addition to handcuffs.

In addition, jail staff will go through retraining on how to properly handcuff inmates.