Escapees May Be In Spokane

Fri., Jan. 3, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

Two escapees from the military jail at Fort Lewis, Wash., may be in the Spokane area, Air Force officials said Thursday.

Army Private Daniel Lewis and Airman Todd Erks escaped from the brig on Sunday by climbing a security fence, threatening a taxi driver and stealing his cab.

Erks, 22, is a Spokane native who was previously stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base and still has family in the area. He was serving a sentence for drug abuse, breaking and entering and larceny while Lewis was in prison for being absent without leave.

Both are white, with brown hair and brown eyes. Erks is about 5 feet 10, weighs 176 pounds, and sports a tattoo of a panther on his right shoulder.

Lewis is about 5 feet 11, 170 pounds, and has a Tasmanian devil on his right arm. They may be driving a blue sports car with Washington plates.

Air Force officials asked anyone with information about the escapees to call Fairchild security police at 247-5493.

, DataTimes

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