Escapee on the lam: Inmate bolts from jail, search set around Chandler

An inmate sentenced recently to serve 20 years in prison escaped from the Lincoln County jail about noon Monday, prompting lock downs at Chandler schools, road blocks to stop all vehicles leaving the area and massive searches using dogs and air support. At press time, the inmate remained at-large.
Authorities are looking for Michael John Washburn, 28. He is described as a black male who is 5 feet, six inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He was reported to be wearing a brown shirt and blue jeans.
Washburn was jailed in Lincoln County awaiting transfer to the Department of Corrections to begin his sentence for shooting with intent to kill. Washburn was convicted July 10 in a non-jury trial and sentenced Sept. 3. He was meeting with his attorney Monday; his attorney of record is David Ball of Stroud.
Lincoln County Assistant District Attorney Clayton Niemeyer told the News-Star that evidence presented at Washburn’s trial was that he approached a person he knew and shot at the man several times, missing him.
Niemeyer said Washburn was visiting with Ball at the sheriff’s office Monday about his appeal, which was filed Monday. He allegedly pushed Ball out of the way and fled through an open door to make his escape, Niemeyer said. Reports indicate a deputy chased after the inmate, but lost track of him.
Deputies, along with support from other law enforcement agencies, began a massive search to apprehend Washburn. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol sent troopers to the area and also were utilizing OHP helicopters and planes.
OHP Lt. George Brown said troopers were assisting in the perimeter search using dog teams and air support.
“We’ve also got checkpoints on all four points of town,” he said Monday afternoon. Motorists traveling in the area were being stopped at roadblocks so authorities could ensure Washburn wasn’t leaving the area in a vehicle. Other troopers were following up with intelligence leads as searches commenced.
The escape put the town of Chandler and its residents on a heightened sense of alert. Immediately after the escape, all school buildings in Chandler were placed on lock-down for student safety.
A school official said Chandler police officers were at each school site Monday afternoon. When classes were dismissed at the end of the day, students were released to a school bus or their parents to ensure they made it home safely; students weren’t allowed to walk home, the official said.
Scanner reports said there was a possible sighting of Washburn about 5:30 p.m. near the Chevrolet dealership in Chandler, so authorities began searching near the railroad tracks in that area. The search continued into the late evening with no new information or sightings.
Anyone with information or a sighting of Washburn should call 911 or the OHP Tip line at 1-866-OHP-TIPS (1-866-647-8477).
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Kim Morava may be reached at 214-3962.