Tuesday evening a huge manhunt was conducted after inmate Jason Laird fled a work detail on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The Pettis County Sheriff’s Office, Sedalia Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and over 30 Missouri Department of Corrections employees combed the area near State Fair Community College and neighborhoods to the west using bloodhounds, the police department drone and a Missouri State Highway Patrol airplane that circled the area for hours.
“Mr. Laird was on work release through Tipton Correctional Center,” Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders stated. “He was at (the) Missouri State Fairgrounds assigned to ground detail.”
Laird was one of around 20 inmates spread around the grounds guarded by a single guard when he fled, leaving only his rake behind.
“Highway Patrol, Police Department and Sheriff's Office all responded immediately,” Anders said. “We cleared some of the buildings out at the fairground to make sure he wasn't inside there and we started clearing all the restrooms on the western campground but were unable to find him.”
During the search his rake was found near a fence in a row of trees behind State Fair Community College. Anders stated the fence was compressed indicating Laird had crossed into the area to the west of the college.
“We called K9 Cav and he came and started a fairly good track, although the scent had to be at least two hours old at that time,” Anders said, “That track led us south behind the State Fair agricultural property and west towards the walking track.”
The German Shepherd lost the track and a team of DOC bloodhounds followed scents through Walnut Hills, Hunters Ridge, Country Club and West Country Club Estates neighborhoods through the night, finally losing the trail near Shady Lane.
“This morning we woke up to a stolen auto report from the Sedalia Police Department,” Anders said, “It was a 2013 white Chevy Silverado Duramax 2500 diesel. The plate is 110189M”
Surveillance video from a maintenance shed on the Missouri State Fairgrounds matched the description of 44-year-old Jason Laird, 5-foot-3-inches tall, 160 pounds with blue eyes. The person seen on the video also had clothing the same as Laird was wearing.
“It looks like he got on the Katy Trail from there and went to Clarendon Road,” Anders said, “It's unknown which direction he went from there.”
To make matters worse, a homeowner reported this morning that a Bond Arms 45/410 pistol was stolen from his truck in the Hunter’s Ridge neighborhood.
“It's possible he was able to steal the gun, we don't know, it might be a coincidence.” Anders said, “With the intelligence that he might have been looking for a gun in a vehicle, it’s just scary. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach this individual and contact 911 immediately if you observe him.”
Laird had escaped custody previously, according to Anders, and had attempted escape by fashioning tools to remove the grout around shower cinder blocks.
“He had multiple seven-year sentences to be served concurrently for first-degree burglary, theft of firearms, (and) second-degree burglary,” Ander said. “There are some domestic violence issues that are involved as well, theft of a motor vehicle. He's known to steal vehicles, which he just did. So, he's not a nice guy.”
Anders doesn’t believe Laird is still in the area, but hopes citizens will remain cautious, securing their guns, vehicles, and homes.
Anders doesn’t know who allowed Laird to work outside prison walls, but he wasn’t pleased with the decision to bring a loosely-guarded convict into Sedalia.
“I have no idea why he's on work-release or why he's allowed to come here and work,” Anders said. “He had an escape charge and an attempted escape charge. He's only been incarcerated for a little over a year.
“I am not happy at all with that decision making,” he added. “That puts our citizens at risk and puts our entire community at risk. It's unbelievable.”
