From an Idaho prison. Good evening, I'm Keith Radford.
And I'm Kathy Brock. Now the search is over. Dallas, one of the ten most wanted criminals in the nation, is in federal custody tonight.
Details of the scour of the Intermountain West for almost a year now. Searching for the man that some call a hero, others a killer.
But tonight, self-styled mountain man Claude Dallas is behind bars in Southern California.
KUTV's Brian Schiffer has been covering the story and he's here now with the report. Brian?
Keith. Self-styled mountain man Claude Dallas was finally cornered and captured in the city.
Dallas was arrested by FBI agents outside a convenience store in Riverside, California this afternoon.
Dallas had vowed not to be taken alive, but he surrendered without a fight.
Agents say Dallas refused to identify himself after the arrest. It was only after a fingerprint check that the FBI was sure it had the right man.
All Dallas had to say was, I want a lawyer.
Agents say Claude Dallas had contacts in Riverside. Contacts that finally became the focus in a year-long search.
Last March, Dallas slipped away from a group of inmates who were returning from a visiting area at the Idaho State Prison.
In less than a minute, Dallas cut holes in two fences and fled to freedom.
Dallas' trail was hot for a few weeks. It led authorities to the high desert in Nevada.
Dallas had support there and friends, but the trail would turn cold. Months of frustration would follow.
Those who lost the convicted killer are glad to see him back behind bars.
Claude's a dangerous person. Glad to see that he's back in custody and evidently done without anybody getting hurt.
Dallas became an outlaw folk hero in 1981 after a bloody shootout with two Idaho game wardens.
Many believed the shootings were in self-defense, that Dallas was protecting himself in the wilderness.
Hiding in the mountains, he eluded capture until 1982. He was arrested, tried, and convicted.
Many were unhappy with the conviction and happy when Dallas escaped again.
Some, like his attorney Bill Mock, hoped he would not be caught.
And I have some regrets that he didn't take off and right off into the sunset and never be heard of again.
Idaho authorities now want a second chance to try and keep Dallas in prison.
The process to bring him back to Idaho will begin quickly.
Tomorrow the Bureau will take him in front of a federal judge and they'll dismiss the charges of him being a fugitive
because he's in custody now and then he'll be prepared to be turned over to us.
Now if he fights extradition or does not waive extradition,
then we'll have to go through the extradition process of getting a governor's warrant.
Idaho authorities believe Dallas may waive extradition and return to Idaho without a court battle.
The real fight, they say, could begin in about a week, the fight to keep him from escaping again.
Dallas has said time and time again that he would not be taken alive.
Did he have a gun when he was actually picked up in Riverside today?
The early word was that he was armed, but the FBI now says he was not.
In fact, the only thing he had in his hand was two bags of groceries.
Thanks, Brian. Good report.