An Albert Lea man was arrested Tuesday after reportedly walking away from a Sentence to Service assignment and leading authorities on a search near the Blazing Star Trail.

The man, John Anthony Garza, 39, was only expected to be in custody in the Freeborn County jail four more days before the incident occurred, said Albert Lea Public Safety Director J.D. Carlson.

Garza now is expected to face a charge of felony escape from custody, Carlson said.

According to reports, dispatchers received a report at about 12:35 p.m. Tuesday that Garza had run off from his Sentence to Service assignment near Burger King and headed toward Southeast Marshall Street and the area of the Blazing Star Trail.

Albert Lea police responded, along with the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, Albert Lea Fire Department and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Carlson said the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office drone was used to canvas the area, and ATVs from the DNR and Sheriff’s Office were also used.

Carlson said Garza was spotted by a deputy behind 1715 S.E. Marshall St. about 15 to 20 minutes after most of the authorities had wrapped up from the search.

 

See what happened last night in the PM report here.