Dangerous escapers recaptured

Press, 2 September 1977, Page 6

Dangerous escapers recaptured

NZPA Newcastle. Newcastle police have re-| captured seven escapees;, after they made a mass' break-out from the Maitland Jail near Newcastle yesterday morning. All seven wereq described as “high-risk”: prisoners. One of the escapees, RayPol litt. aged 24. remained at large for nearly two hours i before he was caught in the Duckenfield area near Maitland soon after 10.30 a.m. Shortly before his recapture three of his company ions, who had swum a stream and stolen a car. ( were caught after a chase, and a collision between their vehicle and a police car. The other three escapees were caught by guards as they tried to seize a hostage outside the jail. The Maitland police said' that a solicitor visiting the tail was seized and thrown}' from his car when the group made their break for freedom. The four prisoners who got clear of the tail area; abandoned the car soon afterwards and continued on] foot. Three chose to swim a stream and stole a second, ear. while Pollitt fled alongthe river bank. It is believed that thej ’-capers got out of the max-' imum-security block through an air vent in the shower , room. A top-level inquiry has al- I readv s’arted into the mass break-out. The State Services Minis- i ’er (Mr Bill Haigh) ordered rhe 'nvestigation as soon as i he heard of the tweak-out i and sent senior officers of his department to the i prison. I More than 50 Hunter Val-ii ’ey police officers and prison |l guards, the police trail bike -nuad from Newcastle, and two Royal Australian Air < I orce helicopters were in- < solv’d m the manhunt.