2 Inmates Escape From Private Prison

Monday, September 17th 2007, 11:08 am

By: News On 6

FLORENCE, Ariz. (AP) _ Two convicted murders escaped from prison Monday by climbing ladders and hoisting themselves over two fences, authorities said. One was quickly captured and the other remained at large.

The inmates were working on a cleaning crew at the Florence Correctional Center when they attacked a guard and tied him down, according to a release from the Corrections Corporation of America, which operates the prison in Florence, about 50 miles southeast of Phoenix.

Detective Walt Hunter of the Florence Police Department said the inmates took ladders, climbed on the prison roof and scaled two fences.

Television footage showed at least one ladder still leaning against a fence.

Hunter said both inmates had been transferred to Arizona from Washington state. One of the men, Kollin Folsom, was later found in a building about a mile south of Florence, Hunter said. He said authorities were searching for the other inmate, identified as Roy Townsend.

According to the Corrections Corporation's release, Folsom is serving time for murder. Townsend was serving time for murder, arson and theft.