Authorities continue the search for two fugitives after a jailbreak at the Chesterfield County Detention Center earlier this month. The capture of two escapees out of the original four fugitives has brought some relief to law enforcement and communities across state lines. According to The Charlotte Observer, Anton Conway Bennett was arrested in Halifax County, North Carolina, more than 200 miles from where the escape occurred. His re-apprehension came days after Emanuel Robson Planco was found in Columbia. Planco, before capture, was reportedly involved in breaking into vehicles.
The escape proved challenging when the group leveraged an air conditioning vent to reach a chamber and forcefully opened a steel door to gain their freedom, as stated by WBTV. Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater spoke to the staff shortage on the night of the escape, attributing it to a "scheduling issue" and acknowledged the jail's current strain with an inmate population reaching 130, while its comfortable capacity hovers around 95.
Officials expressed concern over the recurrent jailbreaks, with this event marking the third annual escape since 2022. The two at-large escapees, Kyonne Marquise McLeod and De’Shawn Malik Fox, are considered dangerous, and the public has been cautioned to not approach them and instead call 911, as The Charlotte Observer reported. Both men could face up to 15 additional years in prison once captured, law enforcement officials noted.
The details of the recent arrest of Bennett were outlined in a news release obtained by WSOC-TV. Initially, Bennett tried to elude capture by providing a false identity after police discovered the reportedly stolen car he was with had broken down. It was only after further investigation was Bennett's true identity revealed, leading to additional charges including identity theft.
Authorities have pledged to continue their search efforts for McLeod and Fox. Streater assured the community that efforts are underway to rectify security lapses, saying, "We’re looking to see if somebody was asleep at the wheel," in a statement given to WBTV.
