Charges filed in county workhouse escape

Charges have been filed against a man who escaped from the Ramsey County Workhouse on Sunday after he broke through a gate in the facility's outdoor recreation area.

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office has charged David Scott Nelson, 28, with "escape from custody," a felony with a maximum sentence of five years.

Monique Margaret Stein, 24, the woman who allegedly assisted with the escape, was also charged with the same offense.

Nelson allegedly fled the Ramsey County Workhouse on Sunday afternoon, and jumped into a car that Stein had driven to the facility.

Correctional officers saw Nelson escaping, and called police. The officers then noticed that the padlock on the recreation area's gate was missing.

A police officer located the vehicle traveling northbound on Hwy 61 near I-94. Nelson was driving the car, and increased his speed before stopping at a St. Paul house.

Nelson then fled on foot, while Stein, his passenger, remained in the vehicle. Police later found a bolt cutter in the car.

A K-9 tracked Nelson to a nearby house, where he was hiding in the basement. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Audio recordings later obtained from the Workhouse indicate that Nelson had called Stein on Sunday morning. He asked her, "Is everything set?" and "Do you know where to be?"

A few minutes before the escape, Nelson called Stein again and asked, "Are you there?"

Nelson has denied that Stein was involved in the escape. The criminal complaint said Nelson told police officers that Stein "had just been told to be there at a certain time, and she thought she was going to be given money."

Prior to his escape, Nelson had been held in custody for allegedly fleeing police in a motor vehicle. He was also awaiting sentencing for felony drug charges, and second-degree burglary.