Georgia Library Staff
Helps Recapture Fugitive
A 37-year-old jail escapee was recaptured in Savannah, Georgia, February 19 with the aid of Savannah College of Art and Design library employees. Joseph Allen, who had escaped from the Chatham County Jail February 15, was being held pending trial on 14 counts of armed robbery. Following his recapture, he will face additional charges of burglary and escape.
Library employee Janice Shipp first noticed that Allen looked familiar, recognizing him from local news reports. When she notified Ron Rayman, dean of library services, Allen realized he had been spotted and approached the pair to ask where he could use a computer. The librarians directed him to the first floor of the building.
Rayman followed him outside, and described the fugitive to a traffic officer. Police immediately descended upon the area and apprehended Allen 20 minutes later in a nearby garage. Following the arrest, the traffic officer stopped in the library to let the staff know Allen had been caught. Rayman told the February 20 Savannah Morning News, “We all cheered. It was very neat to have that happen. This paid off in a way we never expected.”
Posted February 26, 2001.
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