By C1 Staff
LEXINGTON, Ky. — An inmate’s escape while being transported to a court hearing could have been prevented at several points during the transport, according to an investigation by the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
WKYT reports that first the officer didn’t verify the correct court date for Fabian Valentine, who was transported from West Liberty to Louisville before the mistake was discovered.
Then, on the way back, the officer made three unannounced stops: first to McDonald’s, to get breakfast for both himself and Valentine; then a rest area, when Valentine requested to use the toilet; and a second rest area when the inmate again requested to use the bathroom.
Though the officer ensured that Valentine was wearing his restraints at all times, during the second rest stop bathroom break the inmate overpowered the officer and took his gun. He then stole a car and escaped.
Valentine was later found and arrested. He allegedly slipped out of his belly chain and didn’t have it on when the officer escorted him to the bathroom.
The report by the DOC recommends a new training method on restraints like the belly chain.
It also stated that the Department of Corrections Command Center was getting all of its information from local TV news broadcasts. The report stated that the warden of the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex only contacted the State Police after hearing Valentine had been caught in a news broadcast.
The report recommended setting up a communications system between the agencies.