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4 back in jail after escape
The sheriff’s office released the name of only one of the four recaptured prisoners.
LISBON — Peter Argeropulos, chief operating officer for CiviGenics Inc. of Milford, Mass., flew in Monday after four men escaped from the Columbiana County jail that the company runs.
Argeropulos said he received the call about the escape early in the day, and arrived about 5 p.m. “We take this very seriously,” he said.
Two company investigators have also arrived.
The escape will be investigated and reports will be sent to the sheriff and county commissioners, he said. Columbiana County commissioners own the jail but lease it to the company.
Five people were being booked into the Allegheny County Jail late Monday after the escape ended in Bellevue, Pa.
The four escaped prisoners and the girlfriend of one them were arrested around 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to the Bellevue, Pa., Police Department.
A Bellevue dispatcher said that officers were still processing the prisoners at the Allegheny County Jail and were unavailable to comment.
The Columbiana County Sheriff’s office released the name of only one of the four: Jason Heffner, 28, of Salineville faces charges of receiving stolen property, burglary, and nonsupport, according to court records.
The other names were released by Carroll County (Ohio) and Pennsylvania State Police: John Hamilton, Mark Foden and William Merrit.
Columbiana County records show that a John Hamilton, 21, of Salem faces charges of identity theft, misuse of a credit card, and receiving stolen property.
A 38-year-old named Mark Foden of East Liverpool is facing charges of theft and forgery.
A William Merrit, 40, of East Liverpool is facing charges of felonious assault and receiving stolen property.
The Columbiana County Sheriff’s office said that Heffner’s girlfriend, Melissa McCulley, would be charged with complicity to escape. Additional information on her was not available.
All five are to be extradited back to the county, according to Smith.
They escaped after midnight Monday in a stolen 1995 Buick.
Lt. Calvin Graham of the Carroll County Sheriff’s office passed a tip about the vehicle to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Joe Doris. He passed it on to Bellevue police, who stopped the vehicle.
Four members of the group were arrested at that time. Heffner ran away but was apprehended about 20 minutes later.
It wasn’t clear who owned the Buick.
Sheriff David Smith said late Monday that no one was injured.
The four men escaped through a shaft in the new portion of the jail that contained wiring and plumbing.
The escape is similar to one that occurred last May, when Larry Williams, 35, of Lisbon used a board supporting an air conditioner to break a window in the minimum security wing of the jail and escape.
He pleaded guilty to the charge Monday.
Candy Kibler, 38, of Lisbon is awaiting trial on a charge of obstruction of justice in connection with that escape. They were fleeing through Pennsylvania in a stolen vehicle and crashed into a building while being chased by police.
wilkinson@vindy.com