Escaped Gogebic inmate remains at large

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood Township - Another day, more possible sightings, yet the search continues for the inmate who escaped from the Gogebic County Jail Monday night.

Daniel Ferguson, 26, escaped the jail sometime after 8:45 p.m. Monday, according to a Gogebic County Sheriff's Department Facebook post at approximately 9:33 p.m. that night.

Thursday's search effort included the area around U.S. 2 and Powderhorn Road after there was a reported sighting of a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt near the intersection at 9 a.m. Thursday.

While an update on the Gogebic County Sheriff's Department Facebook page said officers were unable to locate the individual, Sheriff Pete Matonich said the various law enforcement agencies involved in the search were continuing to follow up on any and all leads they received.

Matonich urged anyone with information, or who saw anything suspicious, to call 911 or contact the department.

While it remains unclear if the man in the black hoodie was Ferguson, it was the third reported sighting the department investigated since his escape.

Previous possible sightings - which department officials said occurred Tuesday afternoon and sometime after 3 a.m. Wednesday - were farther north. in the Powderhorn area.

It was this area, around Powdermill Resort and the Black River, that Thursday evening's search commenced, following a 7:45 p.m. report of someone seeing Ferguson near the resort before he ran off into the woods.

While Thursday morning's report regarded someone wearing a black hoodie, the previous reports indicated Ferguson may have been wearing a woman's jacket - possibly with a hood - and "some kind of deer skin on his feet," according to undersheriff Ross Solberg.

Prior to his escape, Ferguson was in jail on an operating under the influence charge and a probation violation warrant from Wisconsin.

He was on probation in Iron County for felony false imprisonment and misdemeanor battery charges, stemming from a 2015 domestic violence case. According to online Wisconsin court records, Ferguson was sentenced to two years in prison - which was stayed - and three years extended supervision on the charge in July 2015.

Solbeg declined to comment on the specifics of how Ferguson escaped, citing jail security.

Ferguson is 6 foot, 180 pounds with blond hair and hazel eyes. He has tattoos on his neck, chest, upper arms and left hand, according to the department.

Deputies advised anyone who sees anything suspicious to call 911 or the department.