Escapee back in custody

An inmate who battled a deputy to win short-lived freedom has been captured and is in custody in Pottawattamie County.

Eric Scott was captured on Thursday, one day after breaking loose during transport.

Authorities were on the lookout for Scott, 37, since he overpowered a deputy Wednesday and drove off in the deputy's car. Scott is a convicted sex offender who was considered to be armed and dangerous.

The battle with the deputy happened near Ithaca, Nebraska. Authorities say Scott was able to slip out of his handcuffs, choke the deputy and get away in the transport car.

The deputy is recovering.

The last sign of the inmate before Thursday was outside of the Nebraska Furniture Mart. He dumped the transport car there and got into a dark blue Camaro.

We spoke with a witness who says he crossed paths with the deputy moments after the encounter. Jason Swanson said the deputy was handcuffed and injured.

“It hurt when he moved his arms trying to talk to 911," Swanson said. “He said the inmate choked him out. Lucky to be alive, I would say. Things could have gone really in a bad way."

The witness and deputy then circled back to try to find the guns the deputy tossed from the car but Scott apparently got there first. That's why he was considered armed and dangerous.

When he was taken into custody he was walking down the street near the Pottawattamie County jail.

Just before noon on Thursday the Pottawattamie County Communications Center received a 911 call in reference to a man walking in the area of Joslin Avenue and Borden Road. The caller said they thought the man was the suspect who had escaped from Nebraska authorities.

A news release from the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office states that deputies arrived at 12:12 p.m. "Deputies arrived in the area and located the male. The subject was identified as Eric G. Scott. Mr. Scott was identified as the subject that had escaped from Nebraska authorities. Mr. Scott was in possession of a handgun. The handgun was reported stolen as it was taken at the time of escape.

"Mr. Scott was transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections. Mr. Scott is being held on out of state charges of escape and false imprisonment."