Inmate Escapes From Minn. Correctional Facility
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- An inmate escaped Friday morning from the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater, according the prison.
Authorities are looking for 40-year-old Patrick James Buswell, who they say walked away from the minimum security unit Friday. The Department of Corrections says his electronic monitoring device was found by local police.
Buswell was serving a 60-month sentence for a weapons offense. He was working on the grounds of the correctional facility when he walked away from his crew and left institution grounds.
According to Bayport Police Chief Laura Eastman, the electronic monitoring device was an ankle monitor. She says it's the first time in her nine years as chief that she's heard of this happening.
Eastman says her and other police officers have been going door-to-door checking with homeowners, searching homes, etc. She says a lot of people leave their homes unlocked in the area.
Eastman says it is possible that Buswell was picked up and is no longer in the area.
"Past history has shown that many of the minimum security offenders have rides set up already," Eastman said. "We're not going to make that assumption, so we're going to turn over every rock. But it is likely he was picked up and he's not in the area, but we want to make sure the community's safe. We're going to continue to search all the houses."
Records show Buswell was accused of crashing into a police cruiser last fall. He had a weapon in his car at that time.
He is described as standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 205 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. No one should attempt to apprehend Buswell, the Minnesota Department of Corrections cautions.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the fugitive tip line at 651-603-0026.
Last month, three men were charged after leaving a Wisconsin correctional facility.