Escapees captured after manhunt
A pair of inmates that pried their way through the metal ceiling of the City-County Jail around 1:30 a.m. Saturday were back in custody about 15 hours later after they were found hiding at a rural Saline County residence.
The pair were identified by White County Sheriff Doug Maier as 26-year-old Donald Currier of Golden Gate and 32-year-old Robert Mead of Johnston City.
Currier was injured in the escape attempt, shattering both ankles when he leaped from the north side of the roof of the jail. However, video surveillance clearly showed both he and Mead crossing Cherry Street after the leap, continuing on north through the Cherry Street Automotive lot before the cameras lost sight of the pair.
Currier was being held on aggravated battery charges filed in connection with a stabbing in Grayville during their annual Grayville Days celebration over Labor Day weekend. Mead had been incarcerated since early August on meth-related charges after Sheriff Maier arrested him in the Brownsville area with meth materials.
The pair was able to make their way through a lowered ceiling and to the metal grate roof where they pried their way through the metal grate and roof covering before leaping to the street below.
Jail staff noticed the pair was missing during breakfast and medication passing early Saturday morning. Carmi police officers joined White County jail and sheriff's personnel in immediately securing a perimeter and conducting a K-9 search. Illinois State Police soon joined the search as the perimeter expanded. ISP soon launched an aircraft to assist in the search.
Investigators from local law enforcement teamed with numerous other agencies to begin developing leads in the case. Due to Currier being from Wayne County, and Mead being from Saline County, city and county police from those areas joined in the investigation along with the U.S. Marshal's Service.
As information began to come in to the investigators, two people were interviewed at 117 N. Sixth St. in Carmi. They were identified as Jason Locke and Brandy Minder. Initially, they denied any knowledge of the escapees' location, but further investigation, including phone records, caused the investigators to bring Locke and Minder in for further questioning. They were eventually arrested and booked on preliminary charges of obstruction of justice.
Further investigation led investigators to Saline County where more interviews were conducted. By about 4:30 p.m., a large task force was assembled and entered a rural Saline County residence off Raleigh Road where the two were found hiding. Maier said the pair resisted authorities and were forcibly detained.
Once booked back at the Carmi facility by about 5 p.m., Currier was taken by ambulance and a significant security detail to an Evansville, Ind., hospital for treatment of his ankle injuries. He was returned to Carmi Sunday with casts on both his legs.
The pair now face additional escape charges.
"I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to the men and women in law enforcement who assisted us this past Saturday," Maier said Monday morning. "My entire department responded immediately and worked all day and evening. The Carmi Police Department and Chief Jason Carter took quick action and had K-9 Officer Dustin Buttry on the ground and officers setting up a perimeter. Illinois State Police responded and assisted throughout the process. U.S. Marshal Pete Kell responded with several from his office to assist."
Maier thanked the sheriffs in the surrounding counties, including Edwards County Sheriff Darby Baiwey, Wayne County Sheriff Mike Everett, Williamson County Sheriff Bennie Vick and Saline County Sheriff Keith Brown for their assistance.
"Our Southern Illinois Drug Task Force responded with several officers, as did Norris City, Grayville and Eldorado police departments, who all assisted greatly," Maier said. "White County State's Attorney Denton Aud was involved throughout the day.
"This is a great example of local law enforcement working together to accomplish a common goal. We have had several high profile cases lately in White County. The ability to work in a coordinated effort has made the convictions possible in these cases.
"I am extremely proud to be a part of this group and hope the public is as proud of them as I am."