Handcuffed Man To Cops: 'I Think I'm Wanted'

UPDATED 10/03/11 6:47 a.m.

LOWELL, Ind. (CBS) -- An 18-year-old Northwest Indiana man is free on bond, after being arrested and handcuffed, escaping, then turning himself in with his wrists still cuffed.

As WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports, Zachary A. Keilman, of Rensellaer, Ind., originally had been arrested by Newton County Sheriff's Department for underage drinking at a party. He had been handcuffed and placed in a police car.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports

But while handcuffed inside one of the deputy's police car Keilman took off, still handcuffed, when the deputy was busy dealing with other participants, a news release said.

Keilman then had someone cut the chain to the handcuffs and his legal problems worsened when he realized that he had left his identification inside the deputy's police car, the release said.

So around 2 p.m. Thursday, Keilman walked into the Indiana State Police post in Lowell and told Sgt. Alan Jamerson that he believed he was wanted on a warrant, according to a release from Indiana State Police.

"He walked in. I asked him, 'Can I help you?'" said Indiana State Police Sgt. Alan Jamerson. "He said, 'I think there might be a warrant out for my arrest.'"

When asked why he thought he was wanted, Keilman rolled up his sleeves on his shirt, exposing handcuffs on both wrists, with the chain cut in the middle.

"Sometimes people think that police are looking for them when we're actually not," Jamerson said, "and if someone walks in with handcuffs on their wrists, there is a good chance we are looking for them."

New cuffs were attached, and Keilman was charged with escape and fleeing. He was incarcerated at the Newton County Jail.

But while handcuffed inside one of the deputy's police car Keilman took off, still handcuffed, when the deputy was busy dealing with other participants, the release said.

Keilman then had someone cut the chain to the handcuffs and his legal problems worsened when he realized that he had left his identification inside the deputy's police car, the release said.

He was taken into custody and charged with escape and fleeing. He was incarcerated at the Newton County Jail.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)