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Sheriff criticized for inmate escape

HOUGHTON, MI (AP)--   Houghton County’s sheriff says he's taking some lumps over the escape of a jail inmate who ran away while being escorted from court. 

John Saatio has been on the run since Friday. He's suspected of stealing a car that had the keys inside and driving to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he ran out of gas. The Subaru Legacy was found there Saturday.

Sheriff Brian McLean says Saatio, in handcuffs, dashed into woods while being escorted from the courthouse.

McLean says Saatio is on the sex offender registry due to a conviction in another state. At the time of his escape, he was charged with home invasion.

The sheriff has been criticized on social media, but he said Tuesday that an escape is extremely rare.

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