Montana inmate overpowers guard, gets gun and escapes

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Authorities in southcentral Montana were searching Monday for an inmate who overpowered a county jail guard, took the guard's gun and car keys and escaped in a jail minivan.

Inmate Jordon Earl Linde, 34, ditched the jail minivan after Sunday night's escape from the Park County Detention Center in Livingston and was travelling in another stolen minivan on Monday, the Park County Sheriff's Office said.

He was last seen on U.S. Highway 89 North at mile marker 11 outside Livingston. He is believed to be driving a Chrysler Town and Country with license plate 49-6627D.

Linde has a pistol, is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached, authorities warned.

He was being held on felony drug charges after being arrested by the sheriff's office on Saturday, jail records show.

Further details on the circumstances of Linde's escape were not immediately released.