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| New York prisoner rehearsed escape on night before breakout | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| David Sweat made a practice run before he and Richard Matt broke out of a New York state prison, authorities have revealed. | |
| Sweat, 35, who was shot and captured on Sunday after a three-week manhunt, told investigators he completed a test run before they made their elaborate escape from Clinton Correctional Facility on 6 June, said Clinton county district attorney Andrew Wylie said. Matt, 49, was shot and killed on Friday. | |
| “Sweat tells [law enforcement] that he made a dry run the night before the escape,” Wylie said after he was briefed by New York state police. | |
| Twelve more staff at the prison had been put on administrative leave because of the breakout, including the prison’s superintendent and his deputy in charge of security, authorities announced on Tuesday. | |
| Related: New York prison break - how two murderers escaped | Related: New York prison break - how two murderers escaped |
| A state official who had been briefed on the matter told the Associated Press that the Clinton correctional facility’s superintendent, Steven Racette, and deputy superintendent, Stephen Brown, are among those on leave. The official was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. | A state official who had been briefed on the matter told the Associated Press that the Clinton correctional facility’s superintendent, Steven Racette, and deputy superintendent, Stephen Brown, are among those on leave. The official was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. |
| The department of corrections and community supervision said the suspensions are part of the ongoing review of the 6 June escape by convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat. Matt was killed on Friday and Sweat wounded and captured on Sunday a short run from the Canadian border. | The department of corrections and community supervision said the suspensions are part of the ongoing review of the 6 June escape by convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat. Matt was killed on Friday and Sweat wounded and captured on Sunday a short run from the Canadian border. |
| Sweat on Monday started talking and sharing details of the breakout, saying he and Matt had planned to go to Mexico but headed towards Canada on foot when their getaway driver failed to show up. | Sweat on Monday started talking and sharing details of the breakout, saying he and Matt had planned to go to Mexico but headed towards Canada on foot when their getaway driver failed to show up. |
| The department did not identify the suspended staff. Assistant commissioner James O’Gorman will oversee the facility temporarily. | The department did not identify the suspended staff. Assistant commissioner James O’Gorman will oversee the facility temporarily. |
| Two other staffers, a corrections officer and civilian employee, had been put on leave earlier and now face criminal charges and are accused of helping the escapees. | Two other staffers, a corrections officer and civilian employee, had been put on leave earlier and now face criminal charges and are accused of helping the escapees. |
| The additional suspensions come as attention turns to a wide-ranging investigation of the maximum-security prison in Dannemora, where Matt and Sweat used power tools to cut holes in their cells and a steam pipe on their way under the walls to a manhole outside. | The additional suspensions come as attention turns to a wide-ranging investigation of the maximum-security prison in Dannemora, where Matt and Sweat used power tools to cut holes in their cells and a steam pipe on their way under the walls to a manhole outside. |
| Soon after the breakout, Governor Andrew Cuomo told the inspector general, Catherine Leahy Scott, to investigate factors that could have led to the escape. | Soon after the breakout, Governor Andrew Cuomo told the inspector general, Catherine Leahy Scott, to investigate factors that could have led to the escape. |
| The inspector general’s investigation is separate from the criminal investigation. Any criminal activity uncovered by the inspector general will be referred to prosecutors. | The inspector general’s investigation is separate from the criminal investigation. Any criminal activity uncovered by the inspector general will be referred to prosecutors. |
| Prosecutors have previously said prison tailor shop employee Joyce Mitchell got close to the men and agreed to be their getaway driver but backed out because she felt guilty. Authorities have also said they discussed killing Mitchell’s husband. | Prosecutors have previously said prison tailor shop employee Joyce Mitchell got close to the men and agreed to be their getaway driver but backed out because she felt guilty. Authorities have also said they discussed killing Mitchell’s husband. |
| Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to charges including felony promoting prison contraband. | Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to charges including felony promoting prison contraband. |
| Corrections officer Gene Palmer is charged with promoting prison contraband, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Monday, clearing the way for potential grand jury action. | Corrections officer Gene Palmer is charged with promoting prison contraband, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Monday, clearing the way for potential grand jury action. |
| Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report |
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