Authorities said 39-year-old James Edward Russell took off from the Washington state penitentiary on Tuesday morning. Early the next day, Russell still wearing his prison uniform went to the cabin asking to use the phone, said Department of Corrections spokesman Chad Lewis on Thursday.
After a scuffle, Russell ran off again, Lewis said. The guard, whose name was being withheld by authorities, reported the incident and Russell was caught a few hours later.
He had been serving time for forgery and theft.