Escaped Linn County Inmate Captured Over Weekend

An escaped Linn County inmate was captured over the weekend.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says on Friday afternoon, a police hold was placed on an inmate from the Linn County Correctional Center at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids. The inmate, 57-year old Darrell Lee Lathum, had been incarcerated at the Linn County Correctional Center for charges of Failure to Appear for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Lathum was to be returned to jail following his hospital stay. 

A couple hours later, hospital staff notified the jail that Lathum had fled from the hospital. The Linn County Sheriff Office, along with Cedar Rapids Police, conducted an area search for Lathum, but were unable to locate him. 

On Saturday night, Linn County Dispatch was notified of a man who was seen near Highway 13 and Highway 100 who matched the description of Lathum. Marion PD found the man and identified him as Lathum. He was taken into custody and transported to the Linn County Correctional Center without incident.