Escaped Summit County inmate Jason Lyle Conrad captured. What we know

• Jason Conrad was able to escape and ran away after removing a medical boot.
• He was indicted earlier this month on drug trafficking and other charges.

An inmate who escaped custody early Tuesday morning while on his way to a medical appointment was captured Wednesday morning by U.S. marshals.

A Summit County sheriff's news release said Jason Lyle Conrad, 39, of Akron, was captured at 9:40 a.m. after surveillance officers spotted him attempting to flee near Aqueduct Street in Akron.

"The (Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force) followed dozens of tips, and today, he was arrested after a brief foot pursuit on the train tracks near N. Arlington St. and E. North St." in Akron about three miles from where he was spotted, according to a tweet from the marshals.

Jason Conrad escaped Tuesday:Summit County prisoner Jason Conrad escapes custody while heading to doctor's appointment

Conrad was on his way to a doctor's appointment Tuesday at a medical office on Park West when he escaped near White Pond Drive. Conrad was wearing a medical boot and orange jumpsuit. According to the Summit County Sheriff's Office, Conrad was able to escape and ran away after removing the boot.

Conrad is now being charged with escape, the sheriff's office said.

How did Jason Conrad escape?

Scott Cottle, chief of operations with the sheriff's office, said that while Conrad was being transported to his doctor's appointment, he somehow removed the boot from his leg. When the deputy was taking him out of the cruiser at the clinic parking lot, he noticed the boot on the bottom of the vehicle. Conrad was standing outside the cruiser, with crutches.

"The deputy said. 'Hey, you left your boot in here, you should have this on,' " Cottle said. "At that point, he dropped his crutches and took off running. His injury wasn't as bad as he was portraying. The deputy tried to chase him but he fell down and couldn't catch up."

Cottle said the deputy sustained minor injuries to his hip and shoulder.

"Conrad ran across six lanes of interstate, and went to the opposite side of interstate," Cottle said.

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Where was Jason Conrad attempting to go?

Cottle said that Conrad lives in the Highland Square area.

"We were confident he was trying to get back there," he said.

"This morning, we had deputies and officers for several agencies out on surveillance. We also had an informant who provided deputies with information."

Officers with the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force made the arrest. The task force received information Wednesday morning that Conrad was traveling on a bike in the area of Aqueduct Street and Market Street. Officers from the task force, Akron Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol aviation unit responded to the area.

Conrad had tried to hide in ravine on South Arlington Street but officers were able to catch up to him. At that point, Cottle said, the fugitive allowed himself to be taken into custody about 9:40 a.m.

"He said, 'I give up,' and stood with hands behind his head," Cottle said.

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What has Jason Conrad been charged with?

Conrad was arrested April 21 by Summit County sheriff's deputies, Cottle said. Deputies tried to arrest him at his residence, but Cottle fled on a scooter. The arresting deputy, Cottle said, had to knock him off the scooter to take him into custody. Conrad was indicted May 1 on charges including first-degree felony trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine with major drug offender specifications. Other felony charges included possession of weapons under disability and unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance.

He entered a not guilty plea to the charges on May 22. Bail had been set at $5,000. Conrad was scheduled for a pretrial hearing on June 8.

Conrad was ordered not to be released from the jail due to emergency jail overcrowding.

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Does Jason Conrad have previous convictions?

Cottle said that the public wasn't in any danger.

"He's more of a drug trafficker than anything," Cottle said.

Conrad was previously found guilty of having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony, and falsification, in 2019. He was sentenced to a year prison.

How is the sheriff's department moving forward?

Cottle said the case is still being investigated.

"We are going to review our videos to see if our policies were followed," Cottle said of the escape. "We want to see if the right equipment was used."

Cottle said Conrad was wearing a belly chain hooked to wrists, which gives more freedom of movement. These had been used so he could use the crutches.

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com