One of two county jail escapees still at large

Law enforcement officers in Vernon County were kept busy this weekend. In addition to the Rich Hill shooting Saturday evening, two men escaped from the Vernon County Jail Sunday at about 3:30 p.m. Travis Stinnett and Aaron Stevens escaped from the bullpen during visitation time by tampering with a lock. Stinnett was recaptured fairly quickly by a Vernon County Deputy with the help of a citizen of Nevada but Stevens remains at large. Missouri Highway patrolmen, Nevada Police officers with the assistance of Harley the bloodhound and handler, John Hunt, attempted to locate Stevens' trail but were unable to locate the fugitive. Stevens, who was originally arrested on burglary charges, is described as a 21-year-old male with brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman said Stevens does not have a history of violence; however, caution is urged. Anyone with information on Stevens' location should call the Vernon County Sheriff's Office at (417) 667-6042. This is the second escape from the jail for Stevens, who made his prior escape in 2000. Stevens took went to Hillsboro, N.D. before his capture during that episode. Around 5 p.m., while officials organizing the bloodhound search, an unrelated fight broke out at the Nevada Regional Medical Center parking lot. Reports said that up to 10 individuals were involved in the altercation. Nevada police and troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the fight, and the situation was quickly brought under control.