FORKS — Gary Lowdermilk of Aberdeen escaped briefly from the Forks Jail last week, after using pillows under a blanket to convince guards he was in his bed in his cell.
Lowdermilk, 51, escaped from the jail between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Thursday, and was apprehended by a State Patrol officer at 12:15 a.m. Friday, said Forks Police Chief Mike Powell.
He was found riding a bicycle at Milepost 181 on U.S. Highway 101, Powell said.
Jail staff became aware of his escape after being tipped off by another inmate during lockdown, which begins at 11 p.m., Powell said.
Lowdermilk is believed to have left the jail, which holds up to 40 inmates, through the security door in the day room, outside of their cells, prior to lockdown, Powell said.
Head counts are done routinely, but Lowdermilk had made a dummy out of pillows under his blanket, which made it look like he was asleep, Powell said.
Once out of the jail, Lowdermilk made a hole through the first fence around the jail, and climbed the second fence, Powell said.
He took a dark green rain suit and hard hat from the bed of a truck on G Street, which he was using to disguise himself, Powell said, adding that the bicycle was stolen from a garage.
Lowdermilk’s jail-issued sandals were duct-taped to his feet to allow him to run faster, Powell said.
