ELLSINORE, Mo. -- A manhunt continues in Carter County for a Van Buren, Mo., man who escaped from custody early this morning.
Corey A. Hause, 21, was arrested 5:20 p.m. Wednesday by the Missouri State Highway Patrol on a Carter County warrant for no valid license.
"He was booked into our system and then transported to the Winona City Jail for housing," explained Carter County Sheriff Rick Stephens. "While at the jail, he started experiencing some medical problems, so my deputy escorted the ambulance to the hospital."
Hause, Stephens said, was checked out at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and then released back into the deputy's custody.
"My deputies were transporting him back when they started having some mechanical problems with the vehicle around Ellsinore," Stephens explained. "Following proper procedures, the transport officer contacted the duty deputy, who met him at Ellsinore," Stephens said.
While the deputies were working on the patrol vehicle, "during that same time, (Hause) had to use the restroom," Stephens said. "When he was done, he was able to break free from them" while outside the business.
When Hause allegedly broke free, Stephens said, he ran across the highway from the Leerjak Travel Center into the woods on the north side of U.S. 60.
"He was handcuffed with a belly chain on, a waist restraint," Stephens said.
The escape, the sheriff said, occurred at 1:43 a.m.
"We, of course, got our tracking dogs out and called and requested a helicopter with the (Missouri State) Highway Patrol because of the weather conditions," Stephens said. "We were not able to get the helicopter due to mechanical problems.
"Early, early this morning," Stephens said, he also requested assistance from the Missouri Department of Corrections bloodhounds.
The search for Hause is continuing.
"We got numerous people, ourselves, the Highway Patrol, Ellsinore PD and Van Buren PD, following numerous leads," Stephens said.
At this time, Stephens said, officers have no indication Hause is armed, but "he is an escaped inmate. I would caution the public if they run into him to contact us."
A white male, Hause is described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall, 162 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and light build.
Stephens said Hause was last seen wearing black sweatpants, a bright orange hoodie with a jail uniform shirt over the top of it.
Anyone with information regarding Hause's whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's department at 573-323-4510.