Residents have varying degrees of concern about escapees

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 8, 2000

FERRIDAY, La. — Those who live near the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility have varying degrees of concerns about two prisoner escapes in the last two months.

&uot;I found out about (Ishmael Green’s) escape just by talking with members of the choir, and I&160;was … scared he’d come into my (apartment),&uot;&160;said Quolice Whitley, a resident of nearby Montgomery Square Apartments.

The public housing complex is located on Louisiana 15 between the Correctional Facility and Deliverance Temple Baptist Church, where inmate Green fled on foot from his prison choir group Sunday afternoon after setting up equipment for a performance.

Email newsletter signup

After attempting to steal a car and threaten a Seventh Street resident into giving him a ride to another location, Green, 30, came back to the church at about 2:30 a.m. Monday and, after talking with the pastor, surrendered to prison Chaplain Mark Richardson.

Green now faces charges of simple escape, attempted auto theft and criminal damage to property. Previously, Green had less than one year left for a probation violation. Sheriff Randy Maxwell said Green apparently tried to escape because of problems with his children.

&uot;I knew he had to have some personal problems to want to escape, especially when he didn’t have much time left to serve,&uot; Whitley said.

On April 9, trusty Pablo Menendez walked away from the Correctional Facility’s recreation yard. He has still not been found.

But Angela Snyder, also a Montgomery Square resident, said she is not very concerned about either incident. &uot;It doesn’t bother me, because if they escape, they’re going to try to get as far away from here as they can,&uot;&160;Snyder said.

&uot;I’m not that concerned, because they’re going to go somewhere other than here,&uot;&160;said Thomas McGowan, who lives just off Louisiana 3232 northeast of the facility.