SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. (WOWO): 40-year-old Michael David Elliot, a convicted murderer who escaped from a correctional facility in Michigan, is now in the custody of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department. Just after noon yesterday, the Sheriff’s Department got a call from a resident on North State Street in Shipshewana saying a red Jeep Liberty was parked outside her home. Local schools were locked down and additional officers from surrounding departments helped in a house to house search for Elliot.

Around 5:30, the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department suspended the search but encouraged residents to report any suspicious activity.

According to police, sometime after 6:00 P.M., a Deputy with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department tried to pull a vehicle over on a report that it was stolen, but it sped away. After a short chase, the vehicle stopped and the driver, who was identified as Elliot, was taken into custody, and at last report, he was being held at the LaPorte County Jail.