Michigan fugitive arrested in Jacó

Costa Rican police announced Monday evening that they had arrested 34-year-old fugitive John Saatio from Houghton, Michigan in a downtown Jacó nightclub on June 2, according to a news release.

Saatio had been on the run since June 19, 2015 after escaping police custody while being transported to jail, according to Houghton’s Channel 6 TV News. He was facing a 25-year sentence for home invasion, destruction of police property and violating probation at the time of his escape.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that a car Saatio had stolen was located some 200 miles south in Green Bay, Wisconsin two days after his escape.

Costa Rican police arrested Saatio after his name was flagged as wanted by the United States through Interpol. Immigration authorities confirmed Tuesday that Saatio had snuck into the country.

When police apprehended him in Jacó, Saatio resisted arrest and tried unsuccessfully to escape custody again, reportedly bending the bars of his holding cell, according to the police statement.

Authorities are in the process of deporting Saatio back to Michigan to serve his sentence.