BROCTON - A search is continuing after two inmates from the Lakeview Shock Correctional Facility escaped Friday afternoon.
Daryl Parker, 20 and Rashaun Austin, 16, were the subject of a large manhunt Friday afternoon and evening. The two were wearing green uniforms.
According to Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace, the initial call came in around 2:45 p.m.
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"The inmates escaped while on some kind of work crew outside the facility," he said.
"They were spotted by residents crossing Lake Avenue and later Route 5. Then, police officers saw the fugitives in the woods behind the New Horizons Trailer Park," Gerace said.
Police formed a perimeter around the woods. The search teams worked until dark but because of the density of the trees were expected to stop and maintain the perimeter throughout the night.
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OBSERVER Photos by Matt Panebianco
Above: Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace holds a rifle while assisting in the manhunt for two escaped prisoners from the Lakeview Shock Correctional Facility Friday.
Inset photo: Helicopters were brought in to assist in the search for the escaped inmates.
According to the Department of Correctional Services' website, Parker was incarcerated for burglary in July of this year in Chemung County and was sentenced to one and a half to three years imprisonment.
Austin is serving a sentence for burglary out of Onondaga County.
Many police forces responded to the call, including the Chautauqua County Sherriff's Department, New York State Police, FBI, Forest Rangers, Fredonia Police, Westfield Police and corrections officers. There were also three helicopters involved in the search.
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On the Web
This story was first reported on our Web site at www.observertoday.com at 3:37 p.m. Friday.
According to its the website The Lakeview Shock Correctional Facility houses 650 inmates and is the largest shock incarceration facility in the world. The shock facility is for first-time offenders but there is also a maximum security unit on the premises.
Some of the students at Brocton were in lockdown until after 5 p.m. Friday. Pupils in elementary grades had to be picked up by parents or authorized guardians. The first group of students was dismissed before the school learned of the prisoner escape.
Authorities with the Lakeview Shock Correctional Facility refused to answer questions regarding the escape. Officer Groom said they "weren't set up to provide information" Friday night and directed media to call elsewhere. An Albany phone number was given, however that office was closed.
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