Investigation opened within Grove City police after sex offender reaches month on the run

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GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) – Four weeks after a registered sex offender escaped custody from the Grove City Police Department, there have been few updates on his whereabouts and an internal investigation has begun.

Lieutenant Jason Stern confirmed that the department is conducting an internal investigation "regarding the escort and escape" of prisoner Quinntel Bagley, who sprinted away from police while being taken from Lancaster's Fairfield Medical Center to a police cruiser.

Bagley, 38, had been in custody after being accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend on June 13. The woman was reported missing at 4 a.m. that morning, and the victim’s car was found abandoned at an undisclosed address.

An investigation revealed that Bagley had surprised the woman at her home, grabbed her, and forced her into his vehicle, according to Grove City police. Around three hours later, the woman was found at a Grove City gas station and Bagley was arrested a short time later.

Instead of going to jail, however, police took Bagley to Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, a 45-minute drive away from Grove City. Bodycam videos showed the moments leading up to the registered sex offender's escape, when two officers escorted Bagley out of the hospital. The recordings showed one officer holding onto Bagley’s arm and a female officer walking a few feet in front of them. Within seconds of walking onto the parking garage’s pavement, Bagley bolted away from the officer.

Bagley then broke into a home and stole a car outside of the hospital, according to Lancaster police. He was seen driving a silver or grey Hyundai Santa Fe at the intersection of Coonpath Road and Old Millersport Road. Grove City police later said they had found the car abandoned on U.S. Route 33 near the Hamilton Road exit.

Bagley faces charges of aggravated burglary and kidnapping. With his escape from the hospital and seizure of a car, he could also face two additional charges, Lancaster police said.

Bagley was last seen on June 13, moving on foot and trying to carjack someone around 4:45 p.m. Around the same time, a witness in an apartment complex by US-33 spotted and filmed Bagley running into the woods behind the property.

A registered Tier II sex offender, Bagley served 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and felonious assault in 2012. Three counts of rape, two counts of felonious assault and one count of kidnapping were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Bagley had about three of five years remaining of post-release control when he was arrested Thursday. He is considered to be armed and dangerous, according to Grove City police.