Rancher finds fugitive hiding in shed


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DUCHESNE COUNTY — A rancher discovered a man who fled from police in his shed Sunday morning.

Lance Sizemore, 34, was arrested for investigation of DUI early Sunday morning. Police reports state Sizemore failed field sobriety tests and was secured with handcuffs and a belly chain.

Sizemore was put in the front seat of the deputy’s patrol car. While the deputy was on the phone with a towing company making arrangements to collect Sizemore’s vehicle, Sizemore apparently ran.

Neola residents were put on high alert.

Dirk Olsen, a local rancher, was one of many neighbors who searched for Sizemore. Olsen said after looking for several hours, he headed to his Mountain Valley Angus Ranch.

Olsen said he noticed the chain to one of his gates wasn’t the way he had left it: “This chain was simply hanging there,” said Olsen.

And below the chain, he saw footsteps that didn’t belong to him: “You can see some of his tracks still in the dirt,” said Olsen.

Photo: KSL TV
Photo: KSL TV

Olsen said he followed the tracks and discovered another tampered lock. He continued to follow the footsteps into his shed where he looked around and didn’t see anyone. He stepped in for a closer look, and he saw his space heater was still plugged in and had been used.

Olsen then went over to his baler in the corner of his shed.

“No one was in front. (I) made my way to here and could tell that nobody was behind it,” said Olsen.

No one was there, but when Olsen went to leave, he realized he never looked around the other side of the baler. And there, sitting on the tire, was Sizemore, Olsen said.

"Definitely raise the hair on the back of your neck,” said Olsen.

Sizemore was crouched with his feet up, Olsen said. He was wearing a sweatshirt with the hood over his head.

Olsen walked quickly to the door and asked Sizemore not to move: “I could hear his belly chain rattling in his hands,” said Olsen.

Sizemore walked toward Olsen, and Olsen told him he was harmless and continued to follow him outside. The two then talked for several minutes.

“(We) talked about where he worked; where he was from,” said Olsen.


I don't think that there will be a day that I walk into that barn and don't think of that situation.

–Dirk Olsen


While Sizemore went behind a trailer to warm up in the sun, Olsen said he called his brother-in-law, who called police.

"I don't think that there will be a day that I walk into that barn and don't think of that situation,” said Olsen.

According to police reports, Sizemore had a knife on him. Olsen said it was his knife and Sizemore told him he was going to use it to cut off his handcuffs.

Sizemore was charged Monday for escape, burglary, theft, DUI and driving on an expired registration.

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