2 fugitive Canadian inmates soon found

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SAINT-JEROME, Quebec, March 17 (UPI) -- Two Canadian prison inmates escaped with the help of a helicopter Sunday, but police soon caught one and were negotiating with the other, authorities said.

Quebec provincial police said one inmate, Benjamin Hudon-Barbeau, 36, and two other men who allegedly helped the pair break out were arrested in Chertsey, about 31 miles away from the jail in Saint-Jerome, CTV News reported.

Hudon-Barbeau's cohort, Danny Provencal, 33, had been located and as of 9:30 p.m. EDT, police had set up a security perimeter around him, the network said.

Area residents a heavy police presence appeared to be focused on a home.

The escape occurred about 2:20 p.m. when the helicopter approached the correctional facility and appeared to hover it, CTV News said. The two inmates allegedly came out and appeared to attached themselves to cables descending from the helicopter.

The helicopter then flew away with the inmates dangling below.

Witness Francis Emond described the incident as "a James Bond moment."

The chopper and pilot were located in Mont-Tremblant. The pilot was taken to a hospital and was to be interviewed by police.