2 escaped inmates captured in Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, Ill. (KBSI) – Several law enforcement departments searched and found two escaped inmates who walked away while part of a work crew Friday morning.

Saline County Central Dispatch received a call from a correctional officer from the Illinois Youth Center – Harrisburg at 9:06 a.m. Friday reporting that two inmates, who were part of a work crew at the Sunset Lawn Cemetery, had left the work detail on foot.

Officers from the Harrisburg Police Department and deputies from the Saline County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area.

At 9:14 a.m., Saline County sheriff’s deputy spotted the two escapees fleeing south across the bike path near the Harrisburg Middle School.

Due to the close proximity of the inmates to the middle school, officials contacted the middle school to go on lockdown as a precautionary measure.

Additional officers and deputies responded to the area. They included officers from the Carrier Mills and Eldorado police departments.

Officers chased the suspects into a wooded area nearby, but lost sight of them. They established a perimeter around the area and began a search of the area.

At 9:54 a.m., officers and deputies found the two escaped inmates, bedded down in the woods, where they were arrested.

Harrisburg police thanked the Saline County Sheriff’s Department, Eldorado Police Department, Carrier Mills Police Department, Illinois State Police, Harrisburg Fire Department, Illinois Youth Center and members of the Harrisburg Public Properties and Street Departments who assisted in the search and capture of the escapees.