Escaped Inmate Terrorized Preschool

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A tranquil day at a Northern California preschool was shattered when an escaped inmate burst through a door and pointed a gun at the head of a teacher caring for several infants, the preschool's owner said Tuesday.

The inmate, identified as 24-year-old Maurice Ainsworth, had just stolen the gun of a deputy who was overpowered nearby while transporting him to a Santa Cruz hospital, authorities said.

The unidentified teacher at The Secret Garden Too preschool was on the floor playing autoharp for three infants when a man broke through a fire door waving the gun, preschool owner Cathy LaTorre told The Associated Press.

A parent picking up her infant and another teacher ran out the back of the room and called 911, she said.

The gunman demanded the teacher's car keys and tried to flee in the vehicle parked in the school's parking lot, but an anti-theft device prevented him from starting the car, she said.

About 30 children were at the school at the time. No one was injured.

The unnamed deputy was transporting Ainsworth to Dominican Hospital around 11:30 a.m. Monday when the escape occurred.

The 6-foot-7-inch, 275-pound inmate punched the deputy several times in the face, severely bit her finger and shot her in the ear with her Taser stun gun, causing lacerations, Santa Cruz County sheriff's Sgt. Dan Campos said.

Authorities released few other details about the manhunt that involved foot patrols and air units before ending late Monday afternoon when Ainsworth was captured in a vacant house.

The deputy was released from the hospital after being treated for her injuries.

Ainsworth had been in jail on charges of committing a home invasion robbery

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)