Escaped inmate is in custody following extensive search

An inmate at the St. Louis County Jail in Hibbing is back in custody, authorities say, after he escaped following a medical appointment on Thursday. According to a release, Laron Lyndell Brown told jail staff that he was having chest pains. He was taken to Fairview Range Medical Center for screening.

When Brown was cleared by medical personnel to return to jail, he escaped on foot from the St. Louis County Deputy who was guarding him. The sheriff’s office says Brown was located at 10:30 a.m. Friday after an extensive search of the Hibbing area.

Authorities say Brown was in custody for a felony domestic assault by strangulation charge and was being held on $100,000 bail. Additional charges of Escape from Custody are pending.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, Hibbing Police Department, Eveleth and Chisholm Police departments, and the Minnesota State Patrol assisted in the search.