WESTMINSTER : Minnesota Escapee Jailed After Chase

A 43-year-old man who escaped from a Minnesota jail two weeks ago was captured after a 10-minute chase through the Vons Pavilion shopping center, authorities said.

Police said that around 10 a.m. Monday a patrol officer spotted Lawrence Andrew Saffeels standing in an alley behind the shopping center with a gun protruding from a paper bag.

When Saffeels saw the officer, he ran through a dry cleaners and a pet store with the officer behind him.

While in the pet store, Saffeels tossed away the handgun, said police Lt. Andrew Hall. He was then captured and the handgun was retrieved, Hall said.

An electronic stun gun was also found on the suspect, who police said gave them a fake name and was wearing a fake mustache.

Hall said a fingerprint check showed that Saffeels had escaped from Anoka County Jail in Minnesota, where he was being held on kidnaping and robbery charges.

The suspect was also in possession of a stolen vehicle registered in Des Moines, Iowa. Police found the car in the shopping center parking lot with another handgun, a pair of handcuffs and makeup inside.

Saffeels, who was being held in the Orange County Jail, faces extradition to Minnesota.