The New York State Police say their search for escaped Clinton Correctional inmates David Sweat and Richard Matt leads them to believe they may be headed for Canada. On Friday, state police announced …
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The New York State Police say their search for escaped Clinton Correctional inmates David Sweat and Richard Matt leads them to believe they may be headed for Canada.
On Friday, state police announced that Franklin County continues to be the primary focus of the investigation.
Communities north of the village of Malone, toward the Canadian border will see a strong law enforcement presence on Friday as the search continues.
“Law enforcement cannot get into the specifics of the evidence recovered while investigating this particular lead,” said a statement from state police Troop B commander Maj. Charles Guess. “The evidence is still being evaluated by a state police laboratory as part of the investigative process, but based on what is known, law enforcement have a high degree of confidence in our conclusion.”
Residents will continue to see a strong law enforcement presence in the Town of Bellmont as the search continues there. State police other law enforcement are following all leads in this area, troopers said.
As of Friday, there are more than 1,100 federal, state and local law enforcement members involved in the search area.
“The effort between the law enforcement partners will continue until the inmates are captured,” Guess’s statement said.
Law enforcement officers continue to comb recreational trails in the region, inspect seasonal camps, and conduct ground searches of forested areas. Checkpoints are also continuing. Officers from state, federal and local agencies are involved in this effort. These agencies include forest rangers and conservation officers from the Department of Environmental Conservation, officers from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Plattsburgh Police, Vermont State Police and the Clinton, Franklin and Washington County sheriff’s departments.
“All available assets are being deployed around the clock, including canine and aviation units,” Guess said.
State police said people should not hesitate to report any suspicious activity including any signs of a trespass, burglary or vehicle larceny. People can contact 911, a local law enforcement agency or the New York State Police to report any information related to this investigation at (518) 563-3761 or 1-800-GIVETIP.
Tips can also be sent by email to crimetip@troopers.ny.gov, troopers said.