(WXIN/WTTV) An inmate who used a bathroom break to escape police custody while being transported from Nevada to Indiana in 2024 is still on the run, according to local officials.
Nicholas D. Rhodes, 37, has been charged in Putnam County with felony escape after allegedly running away from a jail transport car last June. Court documents obtained by FOX59/CBS4 detail what led up to Rhodes’ arrest and eventual escape.
Arkansas man arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada
An arrest warrant was issued for Rhodes on Sept. 27, 2023, after he allegedly failed to appear in court for a Status Conference. After months of no activity in his case, authorities learned in April 2024 that Rhodes had been arrested in Clark County, Nevada.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department then arranged for Rhodes to be taken back to Indiana, contracting SGI Avalon Transport to carry out the cross-country trek. The SGI transport crew arrived in Nevada on June 3, 2024, to transport Rhodes.
However, Rhodes reportedly refused to come out of his jail cell and further refused to travel back to Indiana by plane. Given the circumstances, SGI decided to reschedule the transport and move Rhodes by car.
Rhodes was finally taken into custody by SGI on June 11, picking him up in a “transport vehicle.” Rhodes told the SGI employees that his ankle shackles were bothering him due to a previous Achilles surgery, so ankle shackles were not used while transporting him.
Indiana inmate escapes in Independence, Missouri
While being driven in the early hours of June 12, Rhodes “said he needed to use the bathroom really bad.” The SGI transport then stopped around 2:38 a.m. at a Quick Trip gas station in Independence, Missouri.
Court documents state that SGI staff “cleared the bathroom and stall” of the men’s restroom, let Rhodes enter and waited outside. After approximately five minutes, Rhodes reportedly walked out of the bathroom “with his hands under his shirt.”
“The cuffs are embarrassing,” Rhodes reportedly said.
While being led out of the gas station by SGI staff, Rhodes reportedly turned in the opposite direction of the transport vehicle. Rhodes then dropped his cuffs and belly chain while running away from the transport crew.
Rhodes then allegedly hopped a large fence and stated, “Sorry, I just can’t do this.” He then ran into an abandoned apartment complex, according to court documents.
Failed search
An SGI staff member called 911 around 2:46 a.m., describing what had happened and requesting officers. Local police arrived just four minutes later and began searching for Rhodes.
Officers reportedly deployed three drones and police K-9s to try and find the escaped inmate. Police later told SGI staff that there was a large homeless encampment nearby that was throwing off the K-9’s scent.
After searching for over an hour, police were unsuccessful and Rhodes was never taken back into custody. SGI staff then contacted the Putnam County Jail and alerted them that the inmate had escaped.
Rhodes was officially charged on June 24 in Putnam County with Escape – a level 5 felony. A warrant has since been issued for his arrest, but the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Wednesday that Rhodes has not been taken back into custody and is still on the run.
Indiana inmate arrested for drugs in 2020
The original failure to appear charge levied against Rhodes in Putnam County stems from a 2020 drug arrest.
Rhodes was reportedly pulled over on Dec. 24, 2020, for traffic violations while driving a beige motorhome east on Interstate 70 in Putnam County. While walking up to the driver of the motorhome, officers smelled an “overwhelming odor of fresh marijuana” coming from inside.
Rhodes told officers that he and his fiancée were traveling from California to Indianapolis to visit family for Christmas. He then admitted to smoking weed inside the motorhome and gave police two plastic bags containing loose marijuana, edibles and an expired Medical Cannabis card.
After a police K-9 alerted officers to more drugs inside the motorhome, police searched the vehicle and found 417 pounds of cannabis products, $108,560 in cash and suspected cocaine and meth.
Rhodes was officially charged in Putnam Superior Court on Jan. 12, 2021, with the following:
- Dealing in Marijuana Amount is at least 10 pounds – Level 5 Felony
- Dealing in Marijuana Amount is at least 10 pounds. (Conspiracy to Commit) – Level 5 Felony
- Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
- Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
- Possession of Cocaine – Level 6 Felony
- Possession of a Controlled Substance – Class A Misdemeanor
- 2 counts
Online court records show that Rhodes last made an appearance in court on May 22, 2024.
