Chase Orput recaptured after Nevada inmate escape

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office located 23‑year‑old Chase Orput, who had walked away from an inmate work crew on July 27 in Reno‑area Nevada. A citizen who saw him near Interstate 80 and the railroad tracks at mile marker 21 reported the sighting to the Sparks Police Department. Using the tip and a police drone for aerial support, deputies from Washoe County, Storey County and Sparks Police quickly located and detained Orput on July 28.

Orput, who was serving a 90‑day sentence for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and a failure‑to‑maintain‑insurance charge, is now back at the Washoe County Detention Facility and faces additional escape‑related charges. Sheriff Darin Balaam praised the coordinated response among the agencies and the community member’s timely report.