The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is preparing to call of the search for a man who escaped being taken into custody by running off into the woods this afternoon.

A few moments ago, Lt. Wayne Hanson told the Outpost that the man — Michael Otis Springs, 20 — had been arrested about two hours ago by a single sheriff’s deputy off Old Wagon Road in Westhaven, on fresh burglary charges. However, before the deputy was able to put the suspect into his patrol car the man was somehow able to break free and took off running into the woods, still handcuffed behind his back.

A full-scale search ensued around the Westhaven area. The Eureka Police Department sent up its K-9 unit to assist. However, the search has proven fruitless and the Sheriff’s Office is calling it off for the time being.

Hanson said that Springs is not considered armed and dangerous. He is a suspect, Hanson said, in a recent rash of burglaries at the Trinidad water treatment plant.

The Sheriff’s Office will release more information on the incident soon.

# # #

UPDATE, 3:33 p.m.: As promised, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office release below:

On 11-05-2015 at about 9:13 a.m.  Humboldt County Sheriff Deputies were investigating several recent burglaries from the Trinidad Water Treatment Plant in Trinidad. The deputies went to a residence located in the 500 block of Old Wagon Wheel, Trinidad. The deputies contacted the suspect 20 year old, Michael Otis Springs.The deputies arrested Springs for Burglary and placed his hands in handcuffs behind his back.

As one of the deputies was walking Springs to the patrol vehicle he was able to break free from there control and run off into the woods. Deputies pursed Springs on foot, but lost sight of him. A K-9 responded to the scene from the Eureka Police Department to attempt to locate Springs. After an extensive search by law enforcement they were unable to locate Springs.

The Sheriff Office issued a Be on the Lookout (BOL) to other law enforcement agencies to arrest Springs for Burglary and escape from a peace officer. Springs is described as a white, male, 5’-10” in height, 145 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.

# # #