Escaped Wisconsin inmate could be headed to Riverside

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Steven Sampson / Photo from Riverside police

Updated: February 22, 2012 12:17PM

Police in Riverside are on the lookout for a former resident who escaped a Wisconsin jail last month.

Riverside police were notified that Green Lake County (Wis.) Jail inmate Steven M. Sampson escaped from a work release camp, according to a Sunday release from the Riverside Police Department. He escaped Jan. 30, but Riverside police weren’t notified to be alert for him in the area until this weekend, Riverside police Chief Tom Weitzel said.

Sampson’s last known address was in the 300 block of Herrick Road in Riverside, and he still has family that lives in town, police said.

“Mr. Sampson is no stranger to us,” Weitzel said in the release. “We have had several contacts and arrest situations involving Steven Sampson and he has lived at several addresses in Riverside ... His last arrest in Riverside was on July 23, 2011, and, in that case, he was charged with domestic battery and interference with reporting a domestic battery.”

During that arrest, police learned Sampson was wanted on a no-bond warrant for stalking issued by the State of Wisconsin, police said.

Sampson, serving time for stalking, escaped while on a work site project with the Green Lake County Highway Department, the release said. He is suspected of stealing a vehicle after escaping and changing the license plates.

Sampson is described as a 46-year-old white man, police said. He is 5-feet-5, 150 pounds and was last seen driving a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix with Wisconsin license plates.

Anyone with information about Sampson’s whereabouts should call the Green Lake Sheriff’s office at (920) 294-4000.