Runaway prisoner in Crawford County captured in La Crosse, now back in jail

A police pursuit of an escaped jail inmate spread out over 60 miles through three counties before the man was captured Wednesday in La Crosse.

Twenty-six-year-old Paul Germundson broke away from police in Prairie du Chien on Tuesday after being taken from jail to a hospital. Germundson reportedly stole a car outside the hospital, and was nearly arrested at his home in Lynxville before getting away a second time. His vehicle was found abandoned in Stoddard.

Early Wednesday, police received a tip that Germundson was at the Motel 6 in north La Crosse. Officers found him there, and captured him after a struggle. Prosecutors say he tried to grab an officer’s gun from its holster, in hopes of making police shoot him.

La Crosse Judge Ramona Gonzalez set bond for Germundson at $10,000 cash. He’s being charged in La Crosse County with resisting arrest and possessing heroin.