NORTHEAST OHIO — EDITOR'S NOTE: Robert Beane allegedly abducted his 10-month-old son and pistol whipped the child's mother Wednesday morning, triggering an AMBER Alert. WKYC's Tom Meyer investigated the circumstances of Beane's escape from police custody during a report Tuesday night.
One county official, who declined to be identified, compared inmate furloughs to playing a game of Russian roulette. "You're playing with fire," he said.
Two inmates at county jails in Medina and Lorain escaped this month while on medical furloughs. One was captured the next day, but the other remains on the loose.
An assistant to Lorain County Judge Raymond Ewers said an employee of the sheriff's department contacted the judge late at night asking for a court order to grant the furlough for Robert Beane, who is a repeat violent offender with criminal cases dating back eight years.
Beane has been charged with felony assault, aggravated robbery, drugs and weapons. He's been accused of pistol whipping a woman and forcing her in the trunk of a car.
Beane was taken to Elyria Memorial hospital only to walkout the door soon after his arrival. He hasn't been seen since. Beane was unsupervised which is not uncommon for inmates on medical furlough.
Joshua Bragg, 22, was being held in the Medina county jail for cocaine possession. He asked an ambulance driver at Medina hospital 'what are you going to do if I run?'. The driver responded; 'please don't.'
Bragg ignored the request and took off running. He was captured the following day.
By placing inmates on medical furloughs, counties do not have to pay the medical bills of inmates, since the inmates are no longer in their custody, even if its temporary.
The Medina sheriff's department says the hospital will contact their office once the inmate has completed medical treatment. The inmate has one hour to return to jail before sheriff deputies start a search. Once the inmate is apprehended, he or she is charged with escape, which is a felony.