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A 38-year-old Minot man is wanted on a Class C felony escape charge after he allegedly walked out of the Ward County Courthouse on March 15 and eluded authorities who were supposed to place him under arrest.
John Daniel Rude had been ordered detained immediately after Judge Stacy Louser revoked his probation and ordered him jailed for six months.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court by Elwood Smith, Rude left the courtroom with a Ward County deputy. Rude was allowed to make a call on his mother's cell phone and was wandering around the first floor of the courthouse. The officers ordered Rude to stay sitting down. The deputy then had to reenter the courtroom. At 4:30 p.m., it was time to lock the courthouse door. One officer walked to the security desk to get a key to lock the door. While the officer was gone, Rude got out of his chair and ran out the front door. He was pursued by two officers, but they were not able to catch him. Before he escaped, Rude made several calls on the cell phone.
A warrant was also issued for Rude's arrest on a charge of lying to police, a Class A misdemeanor, in February.
Rude's probation was revoked on Class C felony charges of simple assault on a peace officer and resisting arrest.
The escape charge against Rude was filed with the court on Monday.
- Andrea Johnson