Dumb criminal #4,712
From the
Tampa Tribune:
Prisoners Caught After Work Camp Escape
Two state prison escapees stole a Florida Division of Forestry truck from a work camp in Sumter County on Thursday morning and drove it to Tampa, where they were chased by authorities before crashing into a utility pole on the east side of town.
Both were injured, although not seriously, and were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital.
And just how were these two fine citizens found?
Their destination was Tampa, and they made it to the home of a relative of one of the men. There, they lounged around the back yard in their prison uniforms, drinking beer and chatting up a neighbor.
The neighbor went inside and called deputies, while the inmates changed clothes and burned their jumpsuits, Callaway said. Deputies later found the prison outfits smoldering in a hole.
When deputies arrived at the relative's home, at 7212 E. 21st Ave., they saw the inmates heading out in the stolen truck, Callaway said.
Deputies gave chase and 11 minutes later, after a 2-mile chase that hit 50 mph, the forestry truck struck a utility pole at 52nd Street and Broadway Avenue.
Emphasis mine -- christ on a corn dog, when you are escaping from jail, contact your relatives sure but do not contact their neighbors, especially when you are dressed in prison garb... Sheesh...
Posted by DaveH at April 28, 2007 5:58 PM