OMAHA, June 14 (UPI) -- The official in charge of Nebraska's correctional system on Tuesday apologized to the entire state for last week's escape of two inmates who'd been serving long sentences for sex crimes.
Nebraska Corrections Director Scott Frakes said prisoners Timothy Clausen and Armon Dixon were able to escape from the Lincoln Correctional Center on Friday because of multiple security lapses.
"What we are seeing is a failure to follow procedures," he said. "I apologize to Nebraska. This should not have happened."
According to investigators, Clausen and Dixon were able to escape by pretending to be part of the prison's laundry detail and then stowing away on a laundry truck that left the facility Friday morning.
Related
The inmates were able to talk their way into the laundry area, telling a guard the work roster hadn't been updated, officials said.
Multi-Agency search for Escapee Clausen continues. Focus is on northeast #Omaha Report sightings/information to 911 pic.twitter.com/A565EhMmdC
— NEStatePatrol (@NEStatePatrol) June 13, 2016
On Tuesday, Frakes said the lapses included the lack of a shift supervisor, failure to get approval for adding inmates to laundry work detail, a failure to routinely account for inmates, and the failure to effectively supervise the filling and security of laundry carts.
The prison's warden, Mario Peart, has been reassigned pending the outcome of an investigation.
Dixon, 37, was recaptured almost immediately. Clausen, 52, however, has remained elusive. The Nebraska State Patrol said this week that he might be in the Omaha area, located about 50 miles northeast of the prison.
Clausen had been serving a prison sentence of 50-55 years for first-degree sexual assault of a child. Both inmates have now been charged with felony escape. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert said a $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to Clausen's recapture.
Also, a 50-year-old Omaha woman has been charged with aiding in Clausen's escape.
