FARMINGTON – Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Ray Meldrum will order leg irons today so inmates transported from the jail will be wearing them.
Travis Enman, 22, of Auburn escaped Friday from a Franklin County Sheriff Department deputy who stopped at a warehouse in Turner to let an inmate, who was handcuffed and told the deputy he couldn’t wait, go to the bathroom.
Deputy Bob Cox was returning Enman and another inmate to Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn.
Late last year, Enman, who had appeared in a Farmington court Friday, was charged with burglary for allegedly breaking into Hilltop Collision Center and the Knights of Columbus Hall, both in Jay, and Al’s Sports Center in Lewiston.
After Friday’s escape, which launched a two-hour search for Enman by land and air by 20 law enforcement officers and a tracking dog, Enman was caught and charged with escape and assaulting a police dog.
Meldrum said Monday that Enman told Cox that every bump the vehicle hit was making him have to go the bathroom more. Cox found a warehouse that was vacant and then opened two doors to shield Enman inmate from anybody who may go by.
When he was done, Enman stepped like he was going to get back into the car but instead took off running, Meldrum said.
“I don’t like to treat everybody the same, but if one messes up they all have to be treated the same,” he said. “I’m going to order a number of leg irons and everyone will wear them when they’re being transported.”
Cox, a longtime reserve deputy, who was helping the department out on a busy court day, was trying to treat the inmate decently, Meldrum said.
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