Hautu escapers captured

Press, 18 August 1979, Page 4

Hautu escapers captured

PA Auckland; Three escapers from Hautu Prison, near Turangi, were recaptured after an armed showdown with a Tokoroa detective early on Thursday. Detective A. C. Twyford was threatened with a .308 rifle when the escapers’ stolen car was stopped in Tokoroa about 1 a.m. When the prisoner found he was facing a police revolver he surrendered his firearm after some fast talking by the detective. The three men had escaped from the prison with another man between 7.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. dn Wednesday. An Austin 1100, stolen from Turangi, was found crashed near Earthquake Gully, about 23km south of

I j Taupo, as police set up roadblocks. i Senior-Sergeant M. S. ■ Campbell, of the Taupo 1 police, said the car’s engine i had still been warm when . police had found the vehicle 1 just before midnight. j A Toyota Landcruiser was ’ interfered with before the i escapers drove a Holden to- - wards Waitahanui. where 1 police had a roadblock on - the bridge. ; The Holden was abandoned - nearby as the prisoners crossed the Waitahanui 1 Stream, a few metres from r the roadblock. 1 A Honda Civic was taken by the escapers and driven i to Tokoroa. where it was I chased through several • streets by police before bef ing stopped.