COHASSET — Authorities found and arrested the man who escaped from custody two weeks ago at the Northeast Regional Corrections Center in Saginaw.
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office reported 40-year-old Michael Todd Hart was found inside a residence in Cohasset on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
The sheriff's office, with the assistance of the Aitkin-Itasca-Mille Lacs Violent Crimes Enforcement Team and the Itasca County Sheriff's Office, executed a search warrant on the 200 block of Northwest Eighth Avenue.
Hart had escaped custody on Sept. 23, and authorities said they believed he would be headed to the Iron Range, where he had friends and associates.
According to a news release, members of the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force began looking for Hart after receiving information he was back in the Iron Range area. They recently learned of Hart's specific location, which led to the execution of the search warrant in Cohasset.
During the execution of the search warrant, Hart was believed to be hiding inside the basement of the residence. Hart was later located underneath the basement stairwell and refused to exit the stairwell, according to the sheriff's office. Pepper ball was deployed at Hart, which led to him being placed into custody.
Law enforcement stated that Hart remained uncooperative after being placed in handcuffs and assaulted deputies on scene.
A 29-year-old woman was also placed under arrest for aiding an offender.
Hart and the woman were transported to the Itasca County Jail, pending arraignment for new charges associated with the incident.
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Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXETwo women, ages 20 and 22, reported the man had not returned to shore. One of the women was transported by ambulance for injuries related to cold exposure. -
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Ekaterina Bolovtsova via PexelsMichael Hart pleaded guilty to burglary and assault, the charges he was originally in custody for when he escaped from a corrections facility. -
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