Ex-Oregon star Colt Lyerla located after escaping from state custody (Updated)
Update: May 5 – 5:15 p.m. ET
After escaping from a Corrections Center, former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla was located on Friday afternoon, according to multiple reports. A police spokesman said Lyerla was found after someone reported a drug overdose.
Lt. Henry Reimann, Hillsboro police spokesman, said officers encountered Lyerla at 1707 N.E. Parkside Drive after someone called about a man overdosing on drugs. He said he did not know exactly what time the incident took place.
Reimann said Lyerla attempted to flee, but he was apprehended and taken to the hospital for treatment. He will be booked into the Washington County jail after his release from the hospital, Reimann said.
Original story: May 5 – 2:35 p.m. ET
Another bizarre chapter has been added to the Colt Lyerla story.
The former five-star recruit was a standout tight end at Oregon, but he left the team in 2013 just a few games into his junior year. Soon after, he was arrested for cocaine possession and has had a lengthening criminal history — mostly drug-related — ever since.
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Most recently, Lyerla was serving a six-month sentence for drug possession at the Washington County Community Correction Center in Hillsboro, Oregon. However, per OregonLive.com, Lyerla escaped from the minimum-security facility (which provides work-release and substance abuse programs, among others) on Thursday. A warrant has subsequently been put out for his arrest.
Lyerla had been at the Washington County Community Correction Center serving out a six-month sentence for drug possession, county spokesman Philip Bransford said. At 4:55 p.m. Thursday, officials heard an alarm from dorm three.
County workers found an open window and an escape in progress. All residents were counted except for Lyerla. The dorm is on the first floor of the building, said Steve Berger, director of the Community Corrections Department.
Lyerla was sentenced in March after a judge found him guilty in February of possessing heroin. He was serving his sentence there for forgery charges and also had a probation violation for the earlier heroin conviction.
Because he escaped from custody, Lyerla now faces a felony escape charge.
Lyerla was the No. 26 overall recruit in the 2011 class out of Hillsboro High School. He committed to play for the in-state Ducks and enrolled early. He played as a freshman, catching seven passes for 147 yards and five touchdowns, before earning the starting role in 2012 as a sophomore. That season, he caught 25 passes for 392 yards and six scores. He also had 13 carries for 77 yards and a score on the ground.
Lyerla missed multiple practices leading up to the 2013 season because of what the team said were “personal issues.” He also sparked some controversy when he tweeted support for Sandy Hook conspiracy theories. He returned for the start of the season and played in two games but was held out of a game for what coach Mark Helfrich vaguely said were “circumstances.” Lyerla, who said he was sick, spoke out publicly about being upset with the way Helfrich characterized his absence.
After being kept at home for a game at Colorado in October of that year, Lyerla quit the team and declared for the NFL draft. Later that month, he was arrested for possession of cocaine.
Lyerla was not selected in the 2014 NFL draft, but he did sign as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers. During the preseason, Lyerla tore two ligaments in his knee and was placed on injured reserve. He was later waived from the team via an injury settlement and other than a brief stint in the Arena Football League, Lyerla has not played since.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
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