Police, sheriff pool resources to catch jail escapee swimming Lake Opechee

LACONIA — Anthony Taro, 34, of Laconia, is accused of escaping from Belknap County Jail on Tuesday and trying to swim for his freedom after previously allegedly taking to the water a few weeks ago in a vain attempt to evade arrest.

Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield and Belknap County Sheriff Bill Wright confirmed Tuesday that both of their departments were involved in the response to the escapee, whose brief flash of athleticism landed him right back where he started, albeit with a considerably more complicated legal outlook.

Canfield said one of his officers happened to be patrolling North Main Street in the vicinity of the jail when they “observed a subject running from the jail, he was running into the wood line between North Main Street and Old North Main Street,” Canfield said. “We confirmed it was a male who had escaped the jail by jumping over the fence.”

The escapee, later identified by authorities as Taro, was pursued by both Laconia officers and sheriff deputies until he reached the shore of Lake Opechee, where he attempted to splash and dash his way to the opposite shore.

“He made it about 100 yards,” Wright said. Deputy Sheriff Brian Warburton, who was on the shoreline, had a rapport with Taro and was able to convince him the better idea was to turn back to shore, rather than continue his October swim.

“I would say it’s definitely a little cool,” Wright said about the water temperature.

Thanks to a rapid response, which included the cooperation of two local agencies, Taro was being transported to Concord Hospital-Laconia for evaluation less than a half hour from the moment he decided to scale the fence of the jail’s recreation yard.

“Short turnaround, and he was in custody very quickly, which was a great thing,” Canfield said.

Taro had been in the county jail on pretrial confinement since Sept. 22, when he was spotted in the city. Wright said his deputies recognized Taro, and knew there was a warrant out for his arrest for alleged violation of probation for a previous drug charge.

“A couple of my deputies witnessed him in the downtown area. They knew he had warrants. He jumped in the river there, we picked him up on the other side of the river,” Wright explained.

Now, in addition to charges of probation violation and of resisting arrest for his river swim, Taro will have an escape charge added to his list of complaints. Canfield and Wright said more charges could also be added soon.

“It’s unfortunate that this guy made a bad decision, but one thing that we’re looking for, here in Belknap County, those who are escaped, those who are wanted, we’re going to catch them,” Wright said.