U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement captured two inmates on Thursday, five days after they escaped from a Florence, Ariz. prison. The final pursuit and takedown was captured by an officer’s body camera.
In a field roughly 10 miles from the prison, bodycam footage showed a number of law enforcement officers closing in on the fugitives and demanding they get on the ground before a U.S. Marshal is seen tackling one of the escapees.
Over the weekend, prisoners John Charpiot and David Harmon managed to break out of the prison using items they obtained from a tool shed that they gained access to by removing an air conditioning unit, KTAR reported.
In the shed, the two men found a bolt cutter, wire snips, and other tools that they used to cut through a fence.
According to a statement from Coolidge Police Department, dispatch received several calls regarding the fugitives Thursday morning, tips that ultimately led to the escaped prisoners’ capture.
“Two citizens reported that they had a view of who they believed were the outstanding prison fugitives,” the statement read. “David T. Harmon and John B. Charpiot, inmates who escaped from the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence Saturday, were captured and arrested by Coolidge Police and US Marshal’s Officers.”
Another statement shared to the department’s facebook page said it took “eight minutes from call to capture”
ALERT – MEDIA RELEASE This morning at 9:00 Coolidge Police Department received several calls from citizens in…
Posted by Coolidge Police Department on Thursday, January 28, 2021
“They are in custody, awaiting transport back to the Department of Corrections. Thank you to all citizens who helped in the capture of these fugitives,” the department stated.
Today was quite an eventful day in Coolidge! We would like to take this opportunity to thank our dispatchers and…
Posted by Coolidge Police Department on Thursday, January 28, 2021
Convicted of child molestation and sexual abuse, Charpiot was sentenced to 35 years in prison out of Maricopa County in 2011. Also in Maricopa County, Harmon was sentenced to 100 years after being convicted for kidnapping and second-degree burglary in 2012.
“I am personally relieved for their victims and hope once again they can resume their healing process and know their attackers will no longer elude justice,” said Coolidge Police Chief Harry Grizzle in a statement. “This was an event that struck fear in several of our nearby close-knit communities. It is important for the citizens to know that CPD along with AZDPS, AZ DPS GIITEM, US Marshal’s Office, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, Florence PD, Pinal County Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigations, Gila River PD and Arizona Department of Corrections worked around the clock until they were captured. I also want to thank the personnel of American Medical Response for being our ever present public safety partner and for their service today.”
