ELYRIA — Drew Manns may have a knack for slipping out of custody, but he apparently isn’t very good at avoiding trouble.

The 24-year-old Elyria man, who escaped from the law twice in a 24-hour period last year, has been indicted again — this time for allegedly trying to purchase a .38 semiautomatic pistol from Gander Mountain in Sheffield.

Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Dave Muhek said Manns tried to buy the gun twice, once in January and again in February, but a background check turned up pending criminal charges.

“Mr. Manns is not allowed, under state and federal laws, to possess a firearm,” Muhek said.

Manns now faces charges of tampering with records, attempting to have weapons under disability and forgery.

Manns has been in the county jail since March, when he failed to show up for a court hearing on escape charges stemming from his alleged September 2007 escape from the Lorain/Medina Community Based Correction Facility.

Manns allegedly walked out of the facility and surrendered to police after a standoff. He was taken to EMH Regional Medical Center for a mental health evaluation and again managed to slip away.

He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the escape charge. A competency hearing is set for later this month.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.

 

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