Authorities are conducting house-to-house searches are they attempt to recapture two inmates who escaped from the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence on Saturday night, Jan, 23.
At a press conference Monday afternoon conducted by the Arizona Department of Corrections and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, officials said the manhunt was still taking place in the vicinity immediately around the prison.
John B. Charpiot and David T. Harmon escaped from the medium custody South Unit at ASPC-Florence on Saturday evening, Jan. 23.
Officials said they believe the men remain in the immediate area. They added that they fear the inmates may be “holed up somewhere,” thus the door-to-door searches. Officials asked the public to be aware of any family members, neighbors or friends who may not have been seen in the past few days and to alert authorities immediately.
They also note the men may have altered their appearances so as not to resemble their mug shots.
Despite a combined $70,000 reward for information related to the capture of the escapees, officials say they have not received much information. Officials said they are concerned the men may be receiving help. In addition, one of the inmates is said to have connections in Mexico.
Mr. Charpiot, a medium-custody inmate, was admitted to prison in 2011 after being convicted out of Maricopa County to serve 35 years for molestation of a child and sexual abuse.
Mr. Harmon, also a medium-custody inmate housed at the south unit, was admitted to prison in 2012 after being convicted out of Maricopa County to serve a total of 100 years for kidnapping charges and second-degree burglary charges. Officials say Harmon is the fugitive with ties to Mexico.
The inmates were not accounted for during the 8:30 p.m. prisoner count on Saturday. They were last accounted for at the 4 p.m. count Saturday afternoon. Officials say the investigation into the escape is ongoing, but they suspect the men moved an A/C unit, broke into a tool room and used those tools to break out of the prison.
The Arizona Department of Correction is offering $25,000 per inmate for information leading to their apprehension. That amount grew with Gov. Doug Ducey announced on Twitter that the U.S. Marshals office will provide as addition $10,000 reward per inmate, bringing the total reward amount to $70,000.
The department has dispatched its chase teams, tracking dog teams and fugitive apprehension unit to find the escaped inmates. Local authorities, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Marshals Service all have resources deployed to recapture the inmates.
The Arizona Department of Corrections stated in a tweet the inmates should be considered dangerous and are not to be approached. The public is urged to call 911 if they see the inmates. Information on the men’s whereabouts should be called into Silent Witness, 480-WITNESS.
Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley @AzNewsmedia
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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