Surely it wasn't the first time someone had skipped bail in Harrison County, Iowa. But for a 38-year-old burglary suspect, it'll definitely be the last time he skips on the bail posted by a particular lady friend.

The woman had bought her friend his freedom with $5,000 (U.S.) of goodwill. When the court date rolled around, though, the man was a no-show and the $5k was forfeited.

Later the man showed up at the woman's house but she was some pissed in hearing about her lost money. She and a friend beat the fugitive, blindfolded him and drove him off to jail, where Sheriff Terry Baxter found him bound in duct tape and looking "like he had been beat up pretty badly."

"You might say it was vigilante justice," Baxter said, "but this isn't the proper way to handle anything."

The woman and a 30-year-old man were arrested on charges of false imprisonment, serious assault and aiding and abetting a fugitive.

» Scott Saxon