By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

An inmate who walked away from Northwest Kansas Community Corrections last week and caused Hays USD 489 to lock down three district buildings is back in jail.

According to Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin, Brandon Stacy Sanders, 28, Hays was being held in the Ellis County jail on suspicion of aggravated battery when, on Wednesday, Oct. 19, he experienced a medical condition and was transported to Hays Medical Center.

Harbin said hospital officials recommended he be transferred to another hospital. Sanders, who had been escorted by a jail official, then was released on probation with the understanding that, after getting a ride to the hospital, he would return to the county detention center.

John Trembley, director of Northwest Kansas Community Corrections, said Sanders did not get the medical treatment and instead returned the community corrections office the next day, Thursday, Oct. 20.

Trembley informed Sanders that he had another warrant for his arrest and he would be headed back to jail. At approximately 2:30 p.m., Sanders allegedly ran from the office at 1011 Fort.

Hays Police Chief Don Schiebler said USD 489 was notified of the situation and the district chose to lock down O’Loughlin Elementary School, Westside and Rockwell campuses. That lockdown was lifted just after 3 p.m.

Schiebler said they always err of the side of caution and, “at no time did we feel like the schools were in danger.”

Following a tip, Sanders was located and arrested in the 300 block of West 10th shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday by the Hays Police Department on suspicion of probation violation.

Sanders originally was arrested Sept. 10 on suspicion of aggravated battery.

He is back in the Ellis County jail awaiting a bond hearing to determine whether he will be released, according to Harbin.