UPDATE: Search continues in Wisconsin for escaped Houghton jail inmate

UPDATE — 7:24 a.m. June 23rd, 2015 (EDT)

WBAY reports that Green Bay Police believe Saatio was last seen hitchhiking southbound on I-41 in Brown County, Wisconsin Saturday. It’s believed he was hitchhiking between 7:00 p.m and 8:00 p.m. one to two miles south of Highway 172.

UPDATE — 7:20 a.m. June 22nd, 2015 (EDT)

According to ABC affiliate WBAY, Green Bay Police reported that the Subaru believed to have been stolen in connection to Saatio’s escape was found near West Mason Street and I-41 on Saturday night. The Green Bay Police Department is following up on numerous tips received about the escaped inmate.

UPDATE — 6:15 p.m. June 20th, 2015 (EDT)

The Green Bay Police Department told ABC affiliate WBAY that John Saatio was spotted at a Green Bay, Wisconsin business shortly after 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning in the area of Military Avenue and Mason Street. They attempted to set up a perimeter to allow a K9 unit to track Saatio. Police say Saatio fled on foot.

He was last seen around 10:45 a.m. in the area of Langlade and Mason Streets in Green Bay. The stolen gray Subaru has not been located. Police say he has no known ties to the Green Bay area.

Green Bay Police are asking people to lock their doors, especially if they’re going to the Kenny Chesney-Jason Aldean concert.

UPDATE — 5:55 p.m. June 20th, 2015 (EDT)

The Houghton County Sheriff’s Office says it received information that John Wesley Saatio has been seen at a local business in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Green Bay Police have reviewed security video from the business and believe that the person seen is Saatio. A search of the area is being conducted at this time.

UPDATE — 12:15 p.m. June 20th, 2015 (EDT)

The Houghton County Sheriff’s Department is now looking for a stolen vehicle believed to be connected with the escape of a jail inmate Friday morning.

The vehicle, a grey 1995 Subaru Legacy, is described as having damage on the rear passenger side by the tail light. It has a Michigan license plate reading DBF 1524.

The vehicle was stolen while law enforcement were looking for 34-year-old John Saatio in an area southeast of the Houghton County Jail.  It was stolen from nearby the search area.

The public is asked to keep an eye out for the vehicle and contact the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department at (906) 482-0055 or call 911 if it is spotted.

A jail inmate in Houghton has escaped custody.

John Wesley Saatio, 34, escaped around 9:45 a.m. Friday morning while being escorted back from the Houghton County Circuit Court. Saatio was last seen near the corner of Franklin and Eleventh Streets in Houghton wearing an orange jail shirt with handcuffs in the front. Captain Kevin Coppo of the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department said Saatio slipped off his shoes and his orange pants while he was fleeing.

Canine Units from the Michigan State Police Calumet Post and Tribal Police were sent out in search of the inmate. A nearby helicopter also assisted in the search.
Saatio is 6 feet tall, has a shaved head, and wears glasses. He has multiple tattoos on his body. Police say he was jailed on charges of home invasion, destruction of police property, and probation violation. He is also on the sex offender registry.

Anyone with information on Saatio’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office at (906) 482–0055.