Notorious escape artist indicted in Charles City

Alonzo Erwin Logan, who gained notoriety for escaping twice from law enforcement custody, has been indicted on two felony charges in Charles City County stemming from his latest escapade.

A Charles City Circuit Court grand jury, convening on Jan. 8, indicted Logan, 41, on one count each of breaking and entering and abduction. Logan allegedly broke into the Charles City home of Claire Mehalich on Nov. 26, abducted her, and forced her to drive him to Richmond. Several days later, Logan was recaptured after police found him hiding in the attic of an abandoned house in east Richmond.

Logan escaped from Dillwyn Correctional Center in Buckingham County on Nov. 15 by scaling a fence covered with razor wire. Police say he stole a vehicle that was later found in Henrico County where he is originally from.

The convict was spotted in Charles City on Nov. 22 and for the next week, dozens of heavily armed law enforcement personnel surrounded and searched a densely wooded area along Route 5 in the county’s western end near the Henrico line. Logan apparently hid in the area before allegedly abducting Mehalich from her home on Nov. 26.

Ironically, Logan’s first escape from custody occurred almost seven years earlier in Charles City. On the morning of March 23, 2001, Charles City Deputy Mark Robinson was transporting Logan from the same Buckingham prison to Charles City Circuit Court for a probation violation hearing.

On Route 5, about a mile west of the courthouse, Logan managed to free himself from restraints and attempted to grab Robinson’s handgun. Robinson lost control of his police cruiser during the struggle. The cruiser crossed the centerline, striking an eastbound car before overturning in a field.

Logan grabbed the deputy’s handgun and fled on foot into nearby woods in the direction of the courthouse. A few hundred feet later, he reached the residence of Bill Gilliam and encountered Gilliam working inside a shop.

Logan forced Gilliam to drive him to Henrico County where he released the Charles City resident unharmed near Seven Pines. Logan was captured a few hours later inside the attic of a nearby apartment complex.

Before his latest escape, Logan was being held in prison on the Charles City charges stemming from Gilliam’s abduction along with firearm, burglary, and grand larceny convictions in Caroline County.

Logan, however, is no longer being held at the Buckingham facility. He has been transferred to a state prison in Sussex County.