Escaped Convict Suspected In Rogers County Thefts

An Oklahoma jail escapee is a person of interest in a costly Rogers County burglary. Investigators say a man stole a truck and equipment from the county barn - after hiding there for hours.

A county commissioner hopes surveillance video will help get the county's truck back.
 
The Rogers County Sheriff's Office says the man stole a county pickup - but left something important behind. 

Investigator Daniel Welch is collecting blood from the man he believes is in this surveillance video - person of interest Ross Archer, who escaped from the Craig County jail on Friday.

5/26/2017 Related Story: Authorities Looking For Escaped Craig County Jail Inmate

The video shows the man messing with the alarm system after it went off. Claremore police showed up but didn't find anyone.

Welch says not only did the man hide out for up to seven hours - he also made himself at home. 

"Shows him making a drink in the kitchen area, he's smoking, just walking around taking his time," said Sergeant Daniel Welch, RCSO.

Employees punch in a code to get to their keys. But the man busted through the windows - and got the keys to three pick ups.

Welch says the man tried stealing two county pickups - both got stuck in the mud. He got away on the third try, and now investigators are looking for a 2013 red Ford pickup with county tags.

"The thing that's frustrating is when all systems are in place work and this person still is able to do what they did," said Ron Burrows, Rogers County Commissioner District 3.

Burrows estimates that with the value of the truck, damage to two other trucks and stolen tools, the loss is about $45,000.   

It could take six weeks to find out the results of the DNA test.