David Sweat: Inmate Escapee in Critical Condition Following Shooting, Capture on Sunday

David Sweat, one of two escaped inmates from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, was shot and captured in a farm field, less than two miles from the Canadian border on Sunday. He...
David Sweat: Inmate Escapee in Critical Condition Following Shooting, Capture on Sunday
Written by Kimberly Ripley
  • David Sweat, one of two escaped inmates from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, was shot and captured in a farm field, less than two miles from the Canadian border on Sunday. He is now in critical, but stable, condition in an Albany hospital.

    CBS News reports that David Sweat was shot twice in the torso right before his capture.

    New York State Police Sergeant Jay Cook is credited with capturing David Sweat. Cook was alone when he noticed a man walking down the street. A double-take assured the state trooper it was Sweat. David Sweat took off running for a tree line–a great way to escape capture–so Cook shot him twice to prevent that from taking place.

    New York Governor Mario Cuomo told CBS on Monday morning that David Sweat had a bag with him at the time of his capture. In it were maps, bug repellant, tools, and Pop-Tarts.

    Sweat didn’t escape alone from the Clinton Correctional Facility. His partner in crime–Richard Matt–was captured and killed by authorities on Friday. Sources say Matt was sick and drunk when he was captured. Investigators discovered his soiled underwear prior to finding him, and determined he was no doubt ill from consuming either bad food or water.

    The capture of David Sweat will hopefully help law enforcement officials learn exactly how he and Richard Matt escaped from prison. It may also help them determine if there were any other insiders at the prison who helped facilitate their escape.

    Joyce Mitchell, an instructor at the prison tailor shop, and Gene Palmer, a corrections officer, are both in jail for assisting in the escape.

    Surely David Sweat will return to prison once physicians determine he is able to leave the hospital in Albany. What sort of plan do you suppose might be put into place to assure prison officials he doesn’t escape again?

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