Poor construction aided escape; jail staff acted professionally

To the Editor:
The Cumberland Times-News Mon May 23, 2011, 09:39 PM EDT

5/23/2011 — In regard to the most recent inmate escape at the Garrett County Detention Center on May 19, I would like to make the public aware of the following information regarding this matter. (“Friendsville woman flees detention center,” May 20 Times-News, Page 1A)

First and foremost this escape was by no means caused by employee error. The detention center employees acted professionally and promptly and greatly assisted in the apprehension of the suspect.

In 1998, the county received funding to build a holding facility directly adjacent to the visiting room in the Garrett County Detention Center. The funding was provided by the Department of Juvenile Services with the intention of it being used for the detainment of juveniles.

This facility has often been used for the adult inmates when the jail is overcrowded, as in this case. The holding facility was constructed with concrete cinder blocks. However, unbeknownst to me, the bathroom facilities were constructed of half-inch drywall.

(Escapee Alisa Marie) Shaffer began kicking the walls inside the bathroom (out of camera range) and was able to compromise a hole into the corner of the lobby, out of sight of corrections officers. She then turned her jail outfit inside out to hide the black and white striping and ran out of the facility. This was observed by a civilian who directly reported it to jail staff.

Within moments we had numerous on- and off-duty units from various agencies in the search, and with the assistance of information provided by the Department of Parole and Probation we were able to safely locate and return Shaffer to the facility within an hour.

This escape was caused by nothing more than poor construction and lack of a thorough final inspection at the time of its completion in 1999.

I have immediately directed that this holding facility be no longer utilized until it can be properly reconstructed.

My staff was able to locate the original holding facility plan, dated June 1, 1998, and after careful review nowhere did it indicate that any exterior walls were to be drywall.

This type of construction in a detention facility is inexcusable. The jail staff continually battles an outdated and deteriorating facility, but we will continue to make every effort to keep the facility secure for the public.

Sheriff Rob Corley

Garrett County Sheriff’s Office


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