Praise the Lord Arizona inmates release the female hostage Articles / In The News Date: Jan 25, 2004 - 11:06 PM |
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They set her FREE: Praise the lord. Freed female prison officer 'exceptionally strong' 'They would have killed me,' ex-hostage says Monday, February 2, 2004 Posted: 1:23 AM EST (0623 GMT) Rickey K. Wassenaar Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano says the final hostage freed by inmates at a state penitentiary told officials: 'Thank you for not leaving me ... they would have killed me' (February 2) PHOENIX, Arizona (CNN) -- The spirit of the female corrections officer -- freed Sunday night by two inmates, who held her for 15 days in a guard tower -- is "exceptionally strong," an Arizona official said after the ordeal ended. The inmates surrendered peacefully after releasing their hostage and are in the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons until they are transferred to another prison, said Dora Schriro, director of the Department of Corrections. She promised "vigorous" prosecution. As the officer was being transported to the hospital Sunday, she spoke to Gov. Janet Napolitano. "She said basically, 'Thank you for not leaving me. Thank you for not rushing the tower. They would have killed me,' " Napolitano said. Please click read more Please Click HERE to post a prayer BUCKEYE, Ariz. - One of two correctional officers held hostage by two inmates for nearly a week climbed down from a prison guard tower to safety yesterday. The guard, a man who was not immediately identified, was being taken to a hospital after being released, said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Cam Hunter. She had no immediate details on his condition but said authorities were encouraged he was able to walk down the ladder on his own. His release occurred after negotiators delivered an item that the inmates demanded, Hunter said. She did not reveal what the inmates were given. Negotiators were working for the freedom of the other hostage, a woman who remained with the two inmates in the tower, which is thought to be stocked with weapons. "We're greatly concerned. This is a dangerous situation, so we're working hard for her release," Hunter said. Fellow correctional officers were heartened by the release. "The negotiators are doing a fine job. This is a good sign that they were able to come to some kind of agreement," said Joe Masella, president of the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers' Association. The release of the correctional officer occurred after an inmate, wearing a guard's uniform jacket, lowered a bucket over the side of the three-story tower and then pulled it back up. A ladder was placed against the side of the tower and a short time later, an officer could be seen putting on a backpack and climbing down the ladder as the inmate held the top of the ladder. After the guard descended, the inmate shoved the ladder away from the side. The inmates took the guards hostage early Jan. 18 in the tower at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis in Buckeye, west of Phoenix. At least one inmate overcame two guards and a worker in the kitchen during breakfast preparation that day before making his way with another inmate to the tower at the edge of a prison yard. Authorities have not discussed the inmates' possible motive and have not released any details on their identities or previous crimes. They have also declined to say how the inmates got into the tower. Until the crisis is resolved, the other 4,400 inmates at the medium- to high-security facility are in lockdown. |
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