Mount Pleasant, Iowa – Just before 12 p.m. Wednesday, an all-points bulletin was issued after an inmate from the Iowa Department of Corrections Prison walked away from custody, prompting a large-scale manhunt across north Mount Pleasant.
According to law enforcement, security cameras at the Iowa Department of Corrections Prison captured a male inmate in his early 50s leaving the premises on foot shortly after 11 a.m. The man, who had been taking out trash at the facility’s industrial building, was seen walking north from the property. Dispatchers were not notified until just before noon, leaving roughly an hour between the inmate’s departure and the initial alert.
The Iowa State Patrol, U.S. Marshals, Mount Pleasant Police Department, and Henry County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched a coordinated search. Officers canvassed neighborhoods and businesses throughout the north side of the city, reviewing security footage and following multiple reported sightings. The search concentrated on the area near the Walmart Distribution Center, Lomont Molding, and Beck’s Hybrids as tips placed the individual in the northeast corner of town.
Shortly after 1 p.m., deputies with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office located and apprehended the inmate along Adams Street. He was taken into custody without incident and returned to the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility.
Authorities have not yet released the inmate’s identity as the investigation remains active. Additional details, including how the inmate was able to leave the property undetected for nearly an hour, are under review.
KILJ will provide updates as more information becomes available.