Inmate escapes in Humboldt; quickly captured

By KENT THOMPSON
On Friday August 25, at approximately 1:57 p.m., a Webster County sheriff’s deputy was transporting three inmates to the Humboldt County Jail, due to overcrowding, to be housed there.
When the deputy arrived in Humboldt and began escorting the inmates into the building, Jesse Dylan Carlson, 32, of Fort Dodge, ran away and escaped the custody of the deputy, while in handcuffs and leg irons The Webster County deputy gave chase until he lost sight.
Deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, officers with the Humboldt Police Department, off-duty law enforcement and members of the Iowa State Patrol were alerted and immediately responded to the area. As a precaution, the sheriff’s office asked that all schools be put on lockdown.
“We immediately searched the nearby areas and within minutes, Mr. Carlson was located hiding inside a vehicle and was taken into custody,” Humboldt County Chief Deputy Cody Lampe said. The arrest was made less than 20 minutes after the incident occurred, Lampe said. Carlson was found in the 100 block of 5th Street North in Humboldt.
Carlson was then transported back to the Webster County Jail to be placed in lockdown.
“Carlson is now being charged with escape in Humboldt County due to this incident,” Webster County Sheriff Luke Fleener reports. Additional charges could be filed.
Carlson was being held on original charges of first-degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor; and two counts of voluntary absence from custody, both serious misdemeanors and violation of probation.
Carlson has a history of criminal activity, including negotiated guilty pleas in 2022 for felony possession of a controlled substance third or subsequent offense and second-degree burglary. He has a felony plea for escape from custody 10 years ago.
Lampe, Deputy Andrew Shillington and K9 Rooster, Deputy Tim Fisher, Police Sergeant Erin Bennett and Police Chief Joel Sanders were all involved in the apprehension.
Lampe credited Humboldt citizens with calling 911, alerting authorities that the escapee was running through their back yards.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Humboldt Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Department, City of Humboldt public works employees and the Iowa State Patrol.
“Thanks to all of their quick response, and the public, this incident did not create a danger to the citizens of Humboldt,” Lampe said.
Humboldt County Sheriff Dean Kruger reminds all citizens that the incident on Friday is a prime example of why everyone should lock their houses and secure their vehicles.
“Leaving weapons of any sort in an unattended vehicle is strongly discouraged,” Sheriff Kruger said.
Two weeks ago, the Humboldt County Public Safety Commission rejected a bid from a local contractor to construct a sally port that would provide a secure location to unload prisoners, and most likely would have prevented an incident like the one that happened. The bid was rejected because the commission felt the price tag of $659,197 was too expensive.
Jesse D. Carlson is considered innocent of this charge until proven guilty in a court of law.