On Wednesday, the search continued for two fugitives who escaped right through police officers' fingers in Staunton.

The day before, every police officer available in Staunton was brought out to help find them.

Derek Barbour may have been able to get away because of how athletic and fast he was, and all the equipment officers were wearing during the chase.

Officer Lisa Klein said as Barbour started to run, the time it took to react may have been enough for him to get away.

She said he was out of taser range when he started running, and they didn't shoot their guns because he wasn't "an immediate danger" to other people because he was in hand-cuffs and they thought they could catch him.

He's still out in the Valley, and for one man who owns a book store close by, the chase was quite a show.

"I just happened to look up and see someone running up the hill in handcuffs, with an officer not far behind," said Ron Ramsey, whose store is just down the street from the police station. "I thought he would catch him in no time. When I got around the corner, there was no sign of either one of them. I almost wanted to laugh because that guy didn't stand a chance. There was an officer right on his heels. But then to find out he got away, that was quite a surprise."

Officer Klein said with boots, a gun belt, and kevlar, police equipment can add an additional twenty to thirty pounds.

Running in the heat could have led to the fugitives getting away.

On Wednesday, police were continuing their search.

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