Rant & Rave :: View topic

sherri · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:48 pm

A Canada-wide search for five men who broke out of a Regina jail Sunday night is causing special concern for some people in Fort Qu'Appelle.

Two of the fugitives have roots in the community northeast of Regina. They were charged in a violent double murder that happened in the town last fall.

Maryanne Pankiw, who lives down the back alley from where the home invasion took place, said she's worried the men may return.

"It does make me scared, yes," she said. "It does make me wonder what were they doing. How could they have escaped? Hopefully, they explain that to us and let us know what went on soon."

The five escapees are Ryan John Agecoutay, 25, Preston Clarence Buffalocalf, 22, Cody Dillon Keenatch, 19, James Joseph Pewean, 25, and Daniel Richard Wolfe, 32.

Sources told CBC News the men escaped by pulling a vent off a wall, crawling into it and then kicking their way through a wall.

Police said the men are dangerous, and could be armed. Three of them had been held at the Regina jail after being charged with murder.

Fifteen hours lapsed between the escape and the time officials notified the media.

Pankiw said she wishes she had known sooner. Although she says she won't be taking many extra precautions, she says it's best to be aware.

Questions about how long it took officials to notify the public also had politicians talking on Tuesday.

Saskatchewan Corrections and Public Safety Minister Darryl Hickie announced there will be a new policy to ensure the public is notified much sooner in such cases, ideally within an hour.

"We will let the media and the public know if there's an escapee and if they are a danger to the public," he said. "We'll follow up after that with additional information as to what they in fact were incarcerated for or being held for."

New Democrat MLA Kevin Yates said the minister didn't need to change any policies to do that. It was always government policy to report jail breaks as quickly as possible, said Yates, who was the corrections and public safety minister in the former NDP government.

"The new policy is in fact putting in place what's been the practice for many, many years," Yates said.

Meanwhile, a sixth man who's accused of escaping from the Regina Correctional Centre on the weekend appeared in court Tuesday.

Kenneth Iron, 23, is charged with escape from lawful custody. He was arrested about two hours after the breakout. Iron has been remanded in custody.

Before the breakout, he had been behind bars awaiting trial, accused of running over a man with a stolen vehicle last summer. He'll be back in court next month on the latest charge.
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