Escaped Minnesota Inmate Captured After September 23 Escape, Woman Also Arrested

Cohasset, MN (MinnesotaNow)- An inmate who escaped a correctional facility in northern Minnesota two weeks ago has been captured. 

See Also: Former Southeast Minnesota Teacher Admits to Sending Sexually Explicit Photos to Students 

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office also says a second person has been taken into custody. 

A news release issued Tuesday afternoon says authorities made the arrests on Tuesday morning. 

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Authorities Capture Escaped Inmate in Cohasset, MN During Search Warrant

40-year-old Michael Todd Hart escaped from the Northeast Regional Corrections Center in Saginaw, which is about 20 miles northwest of Duluth on September 23. 

He was believed to have fled from the Iron Range area after making his escape but had returned in recent days. 

Members of multiple law enforcement agencies then began searching for Hart and obtained information that he was at a home in Cohasset, which is just west of Grand Rapids, the news release says. 

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Authorities then executed a search warrant at a home located at 240 NW 8th Avenue Cohasset and learned Hart was hiding in the basement of the residence. 

The news release says law enforcement found Hart hiding in the basement stairwell. He refused to come out and authorities shot him with a pepper ball to bring him into custody. 

Officials say Hart remained uncooperative after being handcuffed and assaulted members of law enforcement at the scene. 

He was then taken to the Itasca County Jail, where he is awaiting new charges tied to his escape. 

Authorities also arrested 29-year-old Devon Michelle Shackelton at the scene on suspicion of aiding an offender. She was also taken to the Itasca County Jail and is awaiting charges. 

The news release says authorities executed the search warrant around 11:30 Tuesday morning.