Editor's note: Probation officers took Devon Bartholomew into custody in the Milton area on Wednesday, June 1, officials said.

BLOOMSBURG — A man in handcuffs bolted from two Columbia County probation officers as he was being taken back to prison Tuesday afternoon for violating release conditions, authorities said.

Probation officers were leading Devon Michael Bartholomew, 20, of the Millville area, to a probation officer’s car about 1:30 p.m. when he took off running along Whiteman Avenue outside the courthouse.

They chase after him, but he scampered up the grassy hill at Old Rosemont Cemetery and then disappeared, still handcuffed, wearing a red shirt and black shorts.

Bloomsburg police helped search the cemetery and nearby streets both on foot and in a patrol cars,  but turned up no sign of the missing man.

The search was later expanded to the water reservoir area and walking trail off Irondale Road and the Fernville area of Hemlock Township.

Police in northern Columbia County were also notified to keep an eye out for the escapee.

Bartholomew is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He had reportedly failed a drug test when he showed up earlier at the courthouse for a routine contact visit with his probation officer.

He had been on supervision since being sentenced last winter to six to 23 months for criminal trespass. He entered an apartment in Greenwood Township through a window and stole a woman’s German shepherd dog in June 2015, according to court papers.

His prior crimes include a shoplifting arrest in Bloomsburg last March, during which he also gave police false information about his identity, and another shoplifting arrest in Hemlock Township in June 2014 in which he was also charged with corrupting a minor who was with him, court records show.

Prison records show Bartholomew being released on April 10 when he was paroled to supervision.

Town police said probation officials were expected to seek a bench warrant for Barthlomew pending his capture.