It's a secure facility. What I mean by that is nobody can get in. But if you're inside, you can get out by pushing the handle – Erin Behm
SYRACUSE — A man accused of escaping from police custody by running out the back door of the police station — all while wearing handcuffs — was taken into custody again after finding an officer and surrendering.
Stephen Allen, 21, was arrested at Wal-Mart, 2228 W. 1700 South, after store security recognized him as someone who made a fraudulent credit card transaction the last time he was there, according to Syracuse police officer Erin Behm.
Allen and a female acquaintance were taken to the Syracuse Police Department for questioning about 11 p.m. Each was placed in separate interview rooms. Two detectives interviewed each person. When they were done, the detectives met in a third area to compare notes.
While that was happening, Allen, who had his hands cuffed behind his back, opened the door, walked out of the interview room and then out the nearby exit.
"It's a secure facility. What I mean by that is nobody can get in. But if you're inside, you can get out by pushing the handle," Behm said. "It was about a minute before (officers) realized he was gone."
Officers from the Syracuse, Clinton, Layton and Clearfield police departments assisted in the search, as well as the Davis County Sheriff's Office. Police K-9s, thermal imaging devices and reverse 911 calls notifying residents to be on the lookout were all utilized in an effort to get Allen back into custody, she said.
About 4 a.m., near Cook Elementary School, 1175 W. 1350 South, Allen — still wearing handcuffs behind his back — approached an officer and surrendered.
"He did not give a reason. He just came and said, 'I'm the one you're looking for,' and that was that," Behm said.
Allen was arrested again and eventually booked into the Davis County Jail for investigation of a number of charges, including escape from custody, fraudulent use of credit cards, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of stolen property.
Behm said investigators had been looking for Allen for several weeks in connection with a string of car burglaries.
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