Dramatic drone video shows the moment an escaped inmate was found hiding in the Michigan woods after authorities searched for him for several hours.
Casie Jo Helsel, 44, escaped from the Crawford County Jail in Grayling at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, prompting a large, multi-agency manhunt, according to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities believed Helsel had removed his orange jail uniform and fled toward a swamp less than a mile from the facility. He was reportedly last seen wearing only white underwear.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office called in Michigan State Police to assist with the search. Investigators said Helsel had previously fled from law enforcement and was known to hide while on the run.
In a 43-second video released by Michigan State Police, officers and K-9 teams can be seen moving through thick woodland as a drone operator directed the search from above.
“He’s ran on us several times and his M.O. is to hunker down, whether it be in the water, under a dock or on a stream on the edge and just wait ‘til night,” a member of the aviation team says in the footage.
The drone used thermal imaging to detect heat signatures and guide officers on the ground toward the fugitive’s position.
“There’s a big pile of like brush and junk and probably another 25, 30 yards. You guys should be getting pretty close, probably about 10 feet,” the operator says.
As the teams closed in, the operator reported that Helsel appeared to be “kind of buried in there.”
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“You guys are surrounding him, good, everything’s looking good, about five, six feet,” the aviation officer says. “You guys are almost standing on top of it, what we’re seeing heat-wise underneath the wood pile.”
Near the end of the video, officers locate Helsel concealed beneath a pile of wood and debris before placing him under arrest.
“We got him. We got him,” the operator announces.
The sheriff’s office said Helsel was captured shortly before 4 p.m., less than two and a half hours after escaping from the jail.
Investigators believe Helsel may have exited through a door that had been left propped open, WPBN reported, citing Sheriff Ryan Swope.
According to the sheriff’s office, the door is routinely used by jail employees and others moving supplies and equipment in and out of the building.
Authorities said they do not believe the person who left the door open intended to assist Helsel in escaping.
Online criminal records show Helsel has a lengthy history with law enforcement spanning more than 20 years, including allegations involving drug possession, obstruction of justice, unlawful vehicle use and fleeing from police.
It remains unclear whether prosecutors will file additional charges following his escape and recapture.
The sheriff’s office said it will conduct a full investigation into the jail escape and consider policy changes aimed at preventing a similar incident in the future, the outlet reported.
