2 escaped prisoners ID'd after breaking out of Philadelphia prison: police

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Senior News Editor since 2004

2 escaped prisoners ID'd after breaking out of Philadelphia prison: police​


philadelphia
By Danielle Elllis, Siafa Lewis, Tom Ignudo, Joe Holden

May 9, 2023 / 8:40 AM / CBS Philadelphia









PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two prisoners, including a man accused of being involved in four deaths, escaped from a Philadelphia correctional facility Sunday night.

The prisoners broke out from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center (PICC) located at 8301 State Road.

Police have identified the escapees as 18-year-old Ameen Hurst and 24-year-old Nasir Grant. Hurst is described as 6'0 and weighing 140 pounds. Grant is said to be 5'9 and weighs 160 pounds.

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The duo was last seen around 8:00 p.m., and were later spotted on video cutting a hole in the fence to make their break, police said.

Philadelphia police said they were not notified of the escaped inmates until late Monday afternoon.

Philadelphia Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney said the authorities are working with U.S. Marshals to bring the two back into custody.


"We are adamant and working tirelessly to get these two individuals back into custody, and that is the focus of our investigation," Carney said. "As we go through these processes, we have protocols in place and those protocols were not followed, so that will be a part of our investigation."

Hurst was in custody for four homicides, officials said.

The first homicide happened on the Christmas Eve of 2020 on the 1800 block of Wynnewood Road in Philadelphia, Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said.

In that shooting, 20-year-old Dyewou Nyshawn Scruggs was shot multiple times throughout his body and killed, police said.


The other shootings happened in March of 2021.

Vanore said Hurst allegedly shot and killed 24-year-old Naquon Smith and 16-year-old Tamir Brown on the 1400 block of North 76th Street and wounded another two others. The other homicide happened Hurst is allegedly involved in happened a few days later on State Road near the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center.

Vanore said 20-year-old Rodney Hargrove was being discharged around 1:30 a.m., and Hurst shot and killed him as they were walking across State Road.

Hurst wasn't arrested for the first murder until March 21, 2021, and he was later identified and charged for the additional murders, Vanore said.

"He's a very dangerous individual from what we know and we're looking for the public's help to get him back," Vanore said.

Grant was in custody for narcotics violations, theft and firearm charges, Vanore said.

Hurst and Grant were both accounted for at 8:30 p.m., Carney said. The duo missed a total of three headcounts: 11 p.m. on Sunday and 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. Monday.


Carney said during each headcount, it appeared that Grant and Hurst were both at the prison at the time. She added officials are investigating why the two weren't listed as missing, even though they weren't present during the headcount.



Hurst and Grant, who were housed in the same unit but not the same cell, escaped through a hole in the wall in the recreation yard, Carney said.

Headcounts were increased at the facility due to Hust and Grant escaping, officials noted.

Carney said she reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to conduct a facility vulnerability assessment to check the prison's vulnerable points.

Mayor Jim Kenney sounded the alarm about the correctional center, saying the system screwed up in allowing Grant and Hurst to escape.



"I'm really angry about it. There's no reason for this," Kenney said. "If everyone followed through and did what they were supposed to do, we wouldn't have this problem."

Carney said they haven't a breach at the facility since 2010. The correctional officer's union entered a vote of no confidence in Carney's leadership just last week, citing a staffing crisis which they say has risen to more than 800 vacancies.


Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153, 215-686-TIPS (8477) or 911.
 

Man who escaped from Philadelphia prison captured by U.S. Marshals​


philadelphia
By Tom Ignudo, Alicia Roberts

May 11, 2023 / 11:50 PM / CBS Philadelphia



PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Nasir Grant, the 24-year-old who escaped from a Philadelphia prison earlier this week, was arrested by U.S. Marshals Thursday night.

Grant was taken into custody at 2875 W. Dauphin Street in the city's Strawberry Mansion section at around 10:30 p.m. He was in custody at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center in Holmesburg for narcotics violations, theft and firearm charges.

It's unclear what led U.S. Marshals to Grant's whereabouts.

The other escaped prisoner, 18-year-old Ameen Hurst, is still at-large. He was in custody in connection with four homicides, police said.

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Hurst and Grant escaped from the prison on Sunday, but police said they weren't notified until Monday. They went undetected for three head counts from Sunday night into Monday.


Police claim the two were seen on video cutting a hole in the fence and then escaping.

On Wednesday morning, U.S. Marshals arrested 21-year-old Xianni Stalling for aiding Grant and Hurts' escape.

Investigators believe Stalling was involved in assisting Hurst and Grant to escape from the prison.

Stalling has been charged with escape, criminal use of communication facility, conspiracy and related charges.


Authorities say Stalling received a phone call from one of the inmates before the escape. But police wouldn't identify who made the call or when.

It's unclear how Stalling is connected to the escaped prisoners. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 30. Stalling is being represented by the Philadelphia Defenders Association, which had no comment. She's being held on $500,000 bail.

A $25,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.

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Woman charged with aiding 2 prisoners' escape from Philadelphia prison​


philadelphia
By CBS News Philadelphia Staff, Alicia Roberts, Matt Petrillo

May 11, 2023 / 10:28 PM / CBS Philadelphia





UPDATE: Man who escaped from Philadelphia prison arrested by U.S. Marshals
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A 21-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with helping two men escape from a Philadelphia prison. Court documents show Xianni Stalling, of North Philly, was arrested on Wednesday morning on the 2800 block of North 22nd Street by U.S. Marshals.
Investigators believe Stalling was involved in assisting 18-year-old Ameen Hurst and 24-year-old Nasir Grant to escape from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center in Holmesburg.
Grant was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals Thursday night.
Stalling has been charged with escape, criminal use of communication facility, conspiracy and related charges.

The District Attorney's Office told CBS News Philadelphia Stalling was previously arrested in 2022 for a domestic violence incident involving a relative. She was released then for a lack of evidence.
Neighbors in North Philadelphia are stunned after the arrest of Stalling.
"That's horrible," Cynthia Simms said.
"It's just strange what's going on in this world," she added. "It's just unsafe."

Authorities say Stalling received a phone call from one of the inmates before the escape. But police wouldn't identify who made the call or when.
"They want to establish a timeline before, during and after the escape," William Latorre, a retired Pennsylvania State Police Sgt., said.
Latorre is not affiliated with this case. But he has worked on other prison escapes and says there are signs in this case that pointed to the inmates getting help from the outside.
"They saw a vulnerability and at the time they decided to exploit it and escape," he said. "Then they, as prisoners, would have left the facility with nothing. And so they would find themselves on the other side of the fence figuring out their next step and likely making contact with someone they know."
Hurst and Grant escaped from the prison on Sunday, but police claim they weren't notified until Monday.
Police claim the two were seen on video cutting a hole in the fence and then escaping.
Hurst was in custody for four homicides.

Grant was in custody for narcotics violations, theft and firearm charges.
It's unclear how Stalling is connected to the escaped prisoners. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 30. Stalling is being represented by the Philadelphia Defenders Association, which had no comment. She's being held on $500,000 bail.
With Grant in custody, Hurst remains on the run.
A $25,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
"Law enforcement works long and hard and many, many hours pursuing relentlessly all leads to bring that person back into custody," Latorre said
 


Philadelphia Police identify second helper in prison break​


philadelphia
By CBS News Philadelphia Staff, Siafa Lewis

May 12, 2023 / 5:57 PM / CBS Philadelphia








PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Police have identified and arrested another person involved in last Sunday's prison break. An arrest warrant was issued for 35 year old male, Jose Flores-Huerta.

Flores-Huerta has been arrested and charged with Criminal Conspiracy, and Escape. He is already incarcerated at Philadelphia Industrial Corrections Center for allegedly participating in a fatal beating outside of Pat's Steaks in 2021.

21 year old, Xianni Stalling was arrested Thursday morning for also allegedly helping 24-year-old Nasir Grant and 18-year-old Ameen Hurst escape.

On Sunday May 7, Grant and Hurst were seen on tape cutting a hole in the fence and escaping through the hole.

Grant was arrested Thursday night in Strawberry mansion by U.S. Marshals.


Hurst is still on the run.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
 




Escaped prisoner captured while dressed as woman; 1 still on the run​


philadelphia
By Ross DiMattei

May 12, 2023 / 2:47 PM / CBS Philadelphia







PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - One of two inmates who escaped from a Philadelphia correctional center is back in custody Friday morning, after being captured while dressed as a woman, according to federal authorities.

Nasir Grant, 24, was arrested late Thursday night by the U.S. Marshal Service. A 21-year-old woman is also behind bars and is charged with allegedly helping the two men escape.



Meanwhile, the manhunt continues for the second escaped inmate, 18-year-old Ameen Hurst, who is considered the more dangerous of the two.

Officials said Grant, who was originally in custody for drug and gun charges, was arrested around 10:30 p.m. Thursday night by members of their fugitive task force.



After doing some surveillance in North Philadelphia, authorities said Grant emerged from a home he was known to frequent, wearing full female Muslim garb and a head covering.


They followed him to the 2800 block of West Dauphin Street, where they pulled him over and took him into custody without any incident.

"I like to think that the way we tactically make arrests around vehicles, that we had the element of surprise. I believe he was thoroughly surprised, he submitted to our commands and it was pretty much an uneventful arrest, which is the way we like it," said U.S. Marshal supervisor, Deputy Marshal Robert Clark.

Escaped Inmates-Pennsylvania
This combo from photos provided by Philadelphia Dept. of Prisons shows Nasir Grant, left, and Ameen Hurst. Philadelphia Dept. of Prisons via AP
As for the second escaped inmate, officials said they are working around the clock to track Hurst down, who is charged in connection with four murders.

They say they will not stop until he's back behind bars, adding that anyone who helps him remain on the run will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.


A $25,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to Hurst's arrest. He is described as 6'0 and weighing 140 pounds.

The two men were seen on security cameras breaking out of the facility after cutting a hole in a fence Sunday night. Despite appearing to be accounted for during multiple headcounts, officials said they were unaware of the escape until Monday afternoon.



The Department of Prisons says they are reviewing security tapes, staff assignments, and visitor logs from before, during and after the escape but that that will take days to complete.

U.S. Marshal have also arrested 21-year-old Xianni Stalling, who is accused of helping Grant and Hurst escape. She was taken into custody Wednesday morning, not far from where officials later found Grant.

"She also had a warrant for escape, and I believe conspiracy," Deputy Marshal Clark said. "She was taken into custody without incident after we located her walking down the 2800 block of North 22nd Street."

Police haven't said how Stalling helped the two inmates escape, but they believe she received a phone call from one of them before they broke out.



Stalling was arrested last year for a domestic violence incident involving a relative, but she was later released and the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.


Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 30. Stalling is being represented by the Philadelphia Defenders Association, which had no comment. She's being held on $500,000 bail.



Grant's bail has been set at $10 million. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 30 at 11 a.m.

Anyone with information about Hurst's whereabouts is asked to call Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153, 215-686-TIPS (8477) or 911. You can also call the U.S. Marshal Service at 1-800-336-0102 or send information to usmarshals.gov/tips.
 

May 13, 2023



Man dies from stab wounds, 4 shot in overnight NYC mayhem​



By
Dean Balsamini


May 13, 2023 10:13am
Updated





An unidentified man was stabbed to death in the Bronx overnight.
An unidentified man was stabbed to death in the Bronx overnight. Seth Gottfried




An unidentified man was stabbed to death in the Bronx and four others were hurt in separate shootings across the city overnight, police said.
In the deadly incident, a man who was stabbed multiple times in the torso walked into BronxCare Health System, the former Bronx Lebanon Hospital, at around 2 a.m. Saturday.
It is unclear if the staff was able to provide any treatment. Cops said the man died a short time later.
Investigators “have no idea where it happened and when it happened,” said an NYPD spokesman, noting the victim arrived at the hospital by private means.
At about 2:20 a.m., a 27-year-old woman was shot once in the right leg outside 2-4 Astoria Boulevard, near the Astoria Houses, cops said. EMS brought the victim to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition, police said. The suspect — a man dressed in all gray and black sneakers, ran off, authorities said. There were no arrests.
Less than an hour later, at around 3:15 a.m., a 32-year-old woman was shot in the right leg outside 2422 Webster Avenue, between East 187th and East 188th streets in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx, police said. EMS took the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital in stable condition, cops said. There were no arrests.

First responders on the city street.At about 2:20 a.m., a 27-year-old woman was shot once in the right leg outside 2-4 Astoria Boulevard.Seth Gottfried
At around 3:50 a.m., a 35-year-old man was shot in the stomach on 1st Avenue and East 1st Street in Manhattan. The victim, who is expected to survive, was taken by EMS to Bellevue Hospital, police said. The gunman was described as a man wearing a basketball jersey with the number 38 on the back, cops said.


Blood was also spilled in Manhattan Friday evening when a 17-year-old girl was grazed in the head by a bullet outside 830 Columbus Avenue at around 10:10 p.m., police said.





It’s not known if the woman was by herself or with a group when she was wounded, authorities said. EMS took the teen to St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in stable condition, authorities said.

Police on the street.17-year-old girl was grazed in the head by a bullet outside 830 Columbus Avenue at around 10:10 p.m., police said. Seth Gottfried
Investigators recovered six shell casings at the scene. There were no arrests.
 
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