2010-02-04

Escaped prisoner still on lam in Kendall County

By Judith Pannebaker

After overpowering a local deputy, a prisoner from Bandera County escaped from custody Thursday, Jan. 28, in Boerne. Although deputies from the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Boerne Police Department initiated a manhunt, Michael D. Konvicka, 40, of Pipe Creek, remained on the lam by press time.

According to Chief Deputy Richard Smith, Konvicka currently has three active warrants against him, including assault and evading arrest. “This guy’s apparently been a problem with local law enforcement officers for years,” Smith said. “He likes to fight and he likes to run.”

Initial reports stated that Konvicka had been transported to Boerne Methodist Medical Center for treatment of a laceration. However, according to spokesmen for both the KCSO and Boerne PD, the prisoner had been transported to the medical center for a blood alcohol test after being arrested earlier in Bandera County on a felony DWI charge.

“We were asked to provide a blood kit to Boerne Methodist,” said the Boerne PD spokesman. “As the officer was en route with the kit, we received word that the prisoner had escaped.” The spokesman said a member of the hospital staff had called 9-1-1 emergency dispatch at 4:14 pm to report the suspect had absconded.

According to Smith, however, Bandera County EMS had transported Konvicka to the Boerne emergency facility for treatment of a “large gaping wound” on his forearm. The arresting deputy followed the ambulance in his patrol vehicle.

Smith speculated that the wound had occurred earlier when Konvicka had attempted to break into the house of his ex-common-law wife on Spur Drive. However, Konvicka had already fled the scene when deputies arrived to investigate that incident.

The arresting deputy observed Konvicka run onto a curb while making a turn onto FM 1283. After stopping the suspect at 12:30 pm, the deputy arrested Konvicka for a felony third DWI, then arranged to have him taken to Boerne for medical treatment.

After arriving at Boerne Methodist, the deputy removed Konvicka’s handcuffs enabling medical personnel to treat the wound on the prisoner’s arm. While still uncuffed, Konvicka entered a restroom while the deputy waited outside. After emerging from the restroom, Konvicka apparently overpowered the deputy and in Smith’s words, “ran like a deer.”

Smith opined that the request for the alcohol blood test kit was made in conjunction with the treatment of Konvicka’s wound.
\Smith also explained that Konvicka did not appear on last week’s arrest report because he was arrested, but not taken into custody prior to his Kendall County escape.