By JOHN M. ROMAN jroman@delcotimes.com
Following three recent incidents of inmates at the county prison being accidentally discharged due to clerical blunders, state Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-160, of Upper Chichester, is introducing legislation requiring public notification of prison escapes or accidental discharges.
As of Friday afternoon, David Jeffrey Wilson, 19, also known as David West, of the 100 block of West 22nd Street, Chester, and Ateia Polk, 32, of the 4500 block of North 11th Street, Philadelphia, remained at large after failing to appear in court, according to Delaware County Sheriff Joseph F. McGinn.
“The news of these incidents was not revealed to the public until weeks after they occurred,” Barrar said Friday. “We need a system of immediate notification to protect the lives and safety of our citizens.”
Barrar said, “… these criminals may have been readily apprehended by law enforcement if the public had been alerted of their releases,” pointing out that many fugitives are caught with the help of concerned citizens who witness their whereabouts and report them to authorities.
“At this point, these two prisoners could be long gone and a threat to a community in another area of the state or country,” he said.
“We must ensure that the public is properly notified when incidents such as this occur,” Barrar said.
“Citizens pay for our prisons with their tax dollars and they have a right to know when there is a threat to public safety,” he said.
Barrar’s legislation, which he began working on in June, would specify notification requirements for all state, local and community-based correctional facilities in the event of a prison escape, accidental release, unauthorized absence or removal of a detained person.
The legislator is preparing to host a meeting with elected officials and citizens to review the legislation and make sure the bill offers the best system of notification for residents.
The legislation would apply to adult and juvenile offenders and criminals confined to mental-health facilities. Residents within a two-mile radius of correctional facilities would receive notification, along with schools within a 10-mile radius.
Wilson, who was convicted July 8 of the offense of former convict not to own a firearm, a second-degree felony, was released Aug. 4 from the George W. Hill Correctional Facility. A clerk at the county Office of Judicial Support never faxed the document to the prison indicating Wilson’s bail was revoked, according to Prison Superintendent John A. Reilly Jr.
Wilson was scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 16, according to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.
Polk was charged with robbery, terroristic threats, simple assault, receiving stolen property and retail theft stemming from an incident April 24 at the KC Beauty Store, 6930 Market St., Upper Darby. She allegedly threatened to stab the owner with a hair pin if he didn’t let her out of the store, an affidavit states.
Polk failed to appear for a court appearance and was arrested in July on a bench warrant, authorities said. She had a bail hearing videotaped from the prison July 19 and the judge then ordered her held without bail, with a court date set for July 27.
A veteran prison records clerk missed the revocation of Polk’s bail and she was accidentally released, Reilly said. The clerk was suspended without pay for a week and the county Criminal Investigation Division interviewed her.
Accused killer Taaqi Brown, 21, of Philadelphia, was mistakenly released from the county prison June 21 due to a clerical mix-up with his brother, who was supposed to be released after serving time on minor drug charges. Brown is accused in the May 2009 shooting death of a Folcroft man.
However, when Brown was mistakenly released from the prison, authorities quickly notified the Daily Times and other media due to the serious nature of Brown’s alleged offenses. Brown surrendered to Philadelphia police after being on the lam about 12 hours overnight, spending time with a girlfriend.
Sheriff McGinn discounted the need for such legislation. “Do we need a law to make us do that? I don’t think so.”
McGinn said authorities are actively searching for Wilson and Polk, including the U.S. Marshals Service and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Polk “… got a good month’s head start on us and no signs of her whereabouts at any of the places we’ve been,” he said. They have also touched base with police in Philadelphia, where she’s wanted on other charges, he said.
McGinn said he believes Wilson is in the Chester area.
“If anybody know his whereabouts, call us directly on Delaware County’s Most Wanted tipline, 1-877-792-6833,” or go online, www.delcomostwanted.com , he said.
“I always say any time we can engage the public’s help, it’s a force multiplier,” McGinn said.
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