Inmate flees after assault on an officer

3/23/2005

A pregnant Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio inmate assaulted and overpowered a female CCNO corrections officer and escaped custody yesterday as she was being escorted to a medical clinic in central Toledo.

Authorities said Aurelia Dyer should be easy to spot: She was handcuffed and belly chained, wearing a red prison jumpsuit and gray sweatshirt with CCNO on the back and is three months' pregnant. She was still at large last night.

The handcuffs and leg irons were found about a block from the clinic in the 2200 block of Columbia Street

The 21-year-old central Toledoan was being escorted to an obstetrics clinic in the St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Family Care Center, 2213 Franklin Ave., when she escaped about 1 p.m.

The officer, Lisa Osborne, was being treated last night in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center for injuries sustained in the assault.

Officer Osborne arrived at the clinic and was escorting Dyer from a CCNO van to the building at Franklin and Bancroft Street.

Dyer punched her in the nose and choked her with the handcuffs or belly chain until she was unconscious, Toledo police Sgt. Tim Noble said.

Dyer then ran. Officer Osborne regained consciousness and ran after Dyer until she lost sight of her, the sergeant said.

Toledo police, officers from CCNO - which is in Stryker, about an hour west of Toledo - and other authorities searched the area and places Dyer is known to frequent.

"The word's out in the community that she's wanted," Sergeant Noble said.

Two Toledo Public Schools buildings - Scott High, 2400 Collingwood Blvd., and Warren Elementary, 125 East Woodruff Ave. - were placed on lockdown after officials learned of Dyer's escape, district spokesman Jane Bruss said.

Dyer was being taken to a routine medical appointment when she escaped.

It's common practice on a medical run for one officer to be sent with an inmate, and the officer is not required to be armed if there is no indication the inmate might try to flee, Jim Dennis, CCNO executive director, said.

CCNO makes about 100 medical runs per year. Last year, it conducted 120 medical runs without incident, 14 involving appointments with obstetricians. For security reasons, CCNO does not tell inmates about the appointments in advance, Mr. Dennis said.

"CCNO is obligated by medical standards and liability concerns to provide appropriate medical care to offenders," he said in a statement. "CCNO is obligated to continue to provide inmates with medical care and medical runs will continue."

Linda Shambarger, a CCNO spokesman, said this is the first time an inmate escaped on a medical run. Mr. Dennis said current restraint techniques and transportation protocols will be reviewed.

Dyer was serving a 90-day jail sentence at CCNO after she repeatedly violated the conditions of her original sentence on a forgery conviction in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. She originally was placed on community control.

She also recently completed a 45-day sentence on Toledo Municipal Court convictions for petty theft, drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct, Ms. Shambarger said.

She said Dyer was booked into CCNO on Jan. 14 on the municipal court convictions. She served time on those offenses and was serving time on the forgery conviction when she escaped. Her sentence was to expire April 27.

Mr. Dennis said Dyer was facing assault charges in Bryan Municipal Court for attacking two CCNO inmates in late February. Since then, she's been in a medium-maximum security unit.

He said officials will pursue charges against Dyer, including escape and assault on an officer, when she is captured.

Dyer's last known address was 642 City Park Ave. She is described as 5 feet tall, weighing 115 pounds, with a tattoo of "Ray Ray" on her neck, a tattoo of "Jamal" on her chest, and a tattoo of "Lit Bit" on her back.

Blade staff writers Ignazio Messina and Elizabeth A. Shack contributed to this report.

Contact Christina Hall at

chall@theblade.com

or 419-724-6007.