Authorities in Oklahoma are on the lookout for 62-year-old Lester Hampton, an inmate who walked away from Bridgeway Halfway House in Ponca City. Hampton, described as a white male, was last spotted Saturday at approximately 11:51 a.m., and he is currently in the midst of a 10-year sentence for a second-degree burglary conviction out of Sequoyah County, as per a report from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The situation is being treated with urgency, as Hampton remains at large, and the local community has been alerted to his escape. According to OKC FOX, the Department of Corrections has cautioned the public not to approach Hampton and instead call 9-1-1 if they encounter him or have information regarding his location, which is imperative for the safety of the public and the recapture of Hampton.
The escape has inevitably prompted a review of security measures at halfway houses like Bridgeway, where incarcerated individuals are often in the transition back to society. "Authorities are advising not approach Hampton and call 911 if you see him or know of his whereabouts," as per Tulsa World report.
