Monday, May 12, 2025
53.0°F

Fugitive still on the loose

KEITH KINNAIRD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 15 years, 1 month AGO
by KEITH KINNAIRD
News Editor | March 17, 2010 9:00 PM

SANDPOINT - Authorities are sifting through leads on the possible whereabouts of a Bonner County man who let himself out of a police vehicle while handcuffed last weekend.

"There's been a fair amount of information coming into the prosecutor's office and to our dispatch," said Idaho State Police Trooper Jeff Jayne.

Leland Elroy Dunnagan was arrested for illegal possession of firearms on Saturday, but escaped the vehicle through an unlocked door and managed to slip away while the trooper's back was turned.

The guns were discovered during a burglary investigation. Dunnagan is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a previous felony conviction.

Dunnagan, 52, is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds. The Arizona native has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Dunnagan has been known to use the alias Lee Elroy Deloizer.

The escape happened at Dunnagan's residence at 12 Wellington Road in the Rapid Lightning area.

Authorities initially suspected Dunnagan might have been in the company of his brother, Allen Lee Dunnagan Sr., after the escape. Allen Dunnagan, however, has denied involvement in his brother's disappearance, according to sheriff's officials.

Leland Dunnagan's van has since been reported missing. A description of the vehicle was not available late Wednesday.

Officials consider Leland Dunnagan armed and dangerous, and those who encounter him are asked to call 911.

Leland Dunnagan is also a registered sex offender in Idaho. He was charged in Twin Falls County with three counts of lewd conduct with a minor in 1991. Three years later, one of the counts was amended to rape and the other two counts were dismissed, according to the Idaho State Judiciary's court data repository.

His record in Bonner County consists of traffic and motor vehicle-related violations, the repository indicates.

"He'll turn up somewhere," Bonner County Undersheriff Bob Bussey said on Wednesday.

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Fugitive remains on the loose
Bonner County Daily Bee | Updated 15 years, 1 month ago
Fugitive turns himself in
Bonner County Daily Bee | Updated 15 years ago
Hearing postponed in escape case
Bonner County Daily Bee | Updated 14 years, 12 months ago

ARTICLES BY KEITH KINNAIRD

March 7, 2010 11 p.m.

Revett seeks clarity on Rock Creek mine status

A status conference is pending in federal court to determine if developers of the proposed Rock Creek mine can initiate development of the project.

December 31, 2008 11 p.m.

Former pastor imprisoned for touching young girl

SANDPOINT, Idaho — A district judge declined to go along with a plea agreement which proposed a limited jail sentence for a former pastor who pleaded guilty to fondling a Priest Lake girl several years ago.

Judge orders life sentence in Bristow murder
April 21, 2021 1 a.m.

Judge orders life sentence in Bristow murder

Acosta ordered to serve life in prison for Bristow killing