The Oregon State Police have been searching for an escaped inmate since Monday. Clinton Swearingen II escaped the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution on Sunday night. This is the second inmate who has escaped from an Oregon detention center in just a week.
Swearingen was serving prison time for burglary and theft. Authorities found out that he was missing from the facility at 10:30 in the evening.
Deer Ridge Correctional Institution covers 200 acres of land. It features a minimum-security design that consists of a housing unit as well as operational areas. The institution is made mostly of wood materials and has a minimum-security prison that can accommodate 644 inmates.
The first incident of an escaped inmate was on Wednesday when Matthew Joseph Medlin, 30, a convicted sex offender, escaped by jumping over the fence of the Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland. Authorities were wondering why he decided to escape, given that he was scheduled to be released from prison a few days later.
Police eventually found Medlin at a fast food restaurant. He is now facing additional charges which will likely lead to further prison time.
Oregon Department of Corrections communications manager, Betty Bernt, said that they are concerned that two inmates escaped in less than a week. They will be reviewing the incidents and said, “All security protocols will be scrutinized.”
According to officials, Swearingen, who is yet to be found, is a 31-year-old caucasian man, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 140 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. Prison officials believe he may still be wearing his prison garb, which could be red shorts and a blue shirt printed with the word “inmate,” or blue jeans with the word “inmate” printed on the knee area. Authorities have not yet verified whether Swearingen was being held under minimum- or medium-security. He was, however, set to be released on December 10, 2017.
Deer Creek C.I. Escaped Inmate Clinton Swearingen II, age 31, fled DOC prison east of Madras http://t.co/uPvfCcnCTa pic.twitter.com/VQbbC0Cmj3
— Oregon State Police (@ORStatePolice) May 5, 2014
Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of Swearingen is asked to contact the Oregon State Police. Call 1.800.452.7888.
Image via Google Maps
