Iowa Lakes student faces additional charges after brief escape from jail

By Michael Houseman

An Iowa Lakes student was apprehended after briefly escaping from the Emmet County jailhouse the evening of Friday, Feb. 1.

Divine Roman Watkins, 19, was originally arrested Monday, Jan. 28, on charges of first-degree burglary — a Class B felony — after a 911 call at a dormitory on the Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville campus.

Watkins was taken into custody but later escaped from the jail after assaulting a jailer at 7:20 p.m., Friday, Feb. 1. He was found hiding near the West Fork of the Des Moines River less than 40 minutes later.

On Jan. 27, Watkins called 911 stating that someone had assaulted him and robbed his dorm. Officers arrived at approximately 12:27 a.m. and soon realized this wasn’t the case.

The police reported that when they entered the room, Watkins appeared to be holding a handgun. Watkins and another occupant of the dorm were previously engaged in a physical altercation. Watkins was taken into custody.

That following morning, Iowa Lakes Director of Facilities Dee Hiney sent out a message to all Iowa Lakes students and faculty that read, “Extra precautions on Estherville Campus today -irate student. Law enforcement involved. All doors locked-use your fob. See anything suspicious notify Dean.”

Five days later, Watkins escaped from the Emmet County jail.

Watkins assaulted a jailer, who had recently opened a door leading outside. He ran on foot down Central Avenue in freezing temperatures. Eyewitnesses spotted Watkins running through the parking lot of Fick’s Ace Hardware, before making his way down to Riverside Sinclair.

Watkins evaded arrest until the Spirit Lake K9 Unit and Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene. He was apprehended at 7:58 p.m.

Watkins now faces additional charges, including escape from custody — a Class D felony — and assault on persons in certain occupation — an aggravated misdemeanor.

Watkins, originally from Dover, Delaware, was previously on the Iowa Lakes wrestling team, but was removed from the team in late 2018.