One inmate on the loose, another in custody after early morning escape

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Two male inmates escaped from the Florence Correctional Center at about 1 a.m. Sept. 17. Pinal County authorities apprehended Kollin Folsom around 7 a.m. Monday morning. The other inmate, Roy Townsend, is still on the loose.

Folsom and Townsend are both inmates from the state of Washington. Folsom, a 24-year-old Caucasian male who arrived at the facility on Aug. 5, 2005, is serving a murder sentence.

Townsend is a 37-year-old Caucasian male, 5 feet 11 inches, black hair, brown eyes, and 160 pounds, with no identifiable physical marks. He arrived at the facility on Nov. 9, 2004; his sentence includes theft, arson and murder. He may be wearing dark blue pants and a white t-shirt or dark blue top.

The offenders were both night workers assigned to an evening cleaning crew at the facility. During the course of their work assignment, they overtook and tied down a male correctional officer and gained access to ladders from the maintenance room. They proceeded onto the roof, where it appears they then escaped over the exterior perimeter fencing.

The Florence Sheriff’s Department and Florence Police Department have responded and are leading active search efforts, including K-9 dog units. The prison is on lock-down. There is no report of any missing vehicle from the facility property.

Anyone who might see Townsend should not approach him; call 911 immediately.