The recent escape of Quincy inmate Caleb Duerr is raising concerns in the community, with many questioning as he has now managed to evade authorities for nearly a week.
Duerr escaped from the jail’s recreation yard by manipulating two fences. Dressed in dark blue, jail-issued clothing, he caught a ride out of town to eastern Plumas County, where he was last seen near Beckwourth. Since then, there has been no trace of him. K9 units from multiple sheriff’s offices have been unable to pick up his scent, and leads have so far proven to be false alarms.
We spoke with Undersheriff Chad Hermann to address some of the community’s questions and shed light on the situation. Regarding Duerr’s escape, Hermann declined to comment on whether the yard had surveillance cameras or how Duerr was left unsupervised, allowing him time to breach or scale two fences. However, Hermann did confirm that an internal investigation is underway, and once complete, details will be shared with the public.
Many are concerned about how Duerr was able to catch a ride so close to the jail. He reportedly received a ride from a customer at O’Reilly Auto Parts, just a short walk from the prison. Hermann explained that inmates are dressed according to the severity of their charges. Duerr, who was in custody for violating a restraining order—a misdemeanor—wore dark blue clothing with large white letters reading “PCSO” for Plumas County Sheriff’s Office, along with the word “Jail.” Hermann acknowledged that Duerr could have removed his marked shirt, but his pants would still have been labeled. He speculated that Duerr might have turned his pants inside out, making them look like sweatpants rather than jail-issued clothing. When asked if the sheriff’s office is considering changing inmate uniforms, Hermann said they are looking into adopting blue-and-white-striped uniforms, similar to the orange, white, and black stripes worn by felons.
Duerr had previously posted bail for felony charges of spousal rape and domestic violence before this recent stint in jail. Hermann also confirmed that Duerr has a military background, though he could not specify which branch.
Authorities believe Duerr may have accessed a phone or computer, and the FBI MArshall service is assisting with the search as the manhunt has now expanded into three states, as officials say Duerr has known family and friends in Nevada and Oregon.
The public is urged to remain vigilant. If you spot Duerr, do not approach him, as he is considered dangerous. Instead, call 911 immediately. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office.
