Second prison worker arrested in New York inmate escape

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y., June 24 (UPI) -- A second worker at Clinton Correctional Facility where two men escaped earlier this month has been arrested in connection with the incident, law enforcement said Wednesday.

Police arrested Gene Palmer, who is a guard at the prison in Dannemora, N.Y. He was placed on paid leave earlier this week after he was found to allegedly be involved in the escape of Richard Matt and David Sweat on June 6.

Joyce Mitchell, who worked as a tailor at the facility, told law enforcement she hid hacksaw blades and other tools inside frozen hamburger meat, which was then passed onto Matt and Sweat for use in their escape. She allegedly left the meat inside a tailor shop refrigerator.

Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wiley on Tuesday said Palmer allegedly then gave it to the inmates. He allegedly did not pass the meat through a metal detector.

Palmer and Mitchell both said the guard was unaware the tools were in the meat.

A senior official familiar with the investigation told NBC News that Palmer was being processed after his arrest Wednesday.

Palmer faces charges of first-degree promoting prison contraband, two counts of tampering with evidence and official misconduct.