A three-week manhunt that began when two convicted murderers staged a brazen prison break involving stolen power tools and hacksaw blades hidden in frozen beef ended on Sunday when a single state police officer spotted a suspicious man walking down a rural road near the Canadian border.
David Sweat’s capture came two days after his fellow escapee, Richard Matt, was killed in a confrontation with law enforcement officers while holding a shotgun. Sweat was unarmed when he was shot twice by Seargent Jay Cook as the fugitive ran for some trees.
Cook, a 21-year veteran, was alone and on routine patrol when he stumbled upon Sweat in the northern New York State town of Constable — northwest of the prison — and recognized him.
He gave chase when Sweat fled and decided to fire upon fearing he would lose him in the trees, state police said.
“I can only assume he was going for the border,” New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico said.
The arrest ended an ordeal that sent 1,300 law enforcement officers into the thickly forested northern reaches of New York State and forced residents to tolerate nerve-wracking armed checkpoints and property searches.
“The nightmare is finally over,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference.
Authorities said Sweat was struck in the torso and taken to a hospital in the New York State town of Malone before being transported to Albany Medical Center in New York, which has a trauma center.
Sweat, who was listed in critical condition, was being evaluated by a team of doctors including emergency medical physicians, trauma specialists and others who would determine whether surgery was necessary, doctor Dennis McKenna said.
Sweat had not been formally interviewed by investigators as of late on Sunday, but any information he provides could be critical to the investigation, Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said.
Sweat is to be charged with escape, burglary and other charges, Wylie said. He and Matt are suspected of breaking into some of the region’s many cabins during their time on the run. Wylie said prosecutors would wait for Sweat to recover before charging him.
The men had been on the loose since June 6, when they cut their way out of a maximum-security prison about 50km away using power tools. Two prison workers have been charged with helping them.
D’Amico said the men might have used black pepper to throw off the scent of dogs that were tracking them. He said Sweat’s DNA was recovered from pepper shakers found at one camp where the fugitives may have spent time.
Cuomo said many questions remained unanswered in the case, including whether the inmates had other accomplices.
“We have already started a full investigation,” he said. “But today ends with good news. These were dangerous, dangerous men.”
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