Orangeburg County, SC (WLTX) — Two inmates who escaped from the Orangeburg County Detention Center Saturday have been captured and officials say they are chasing down leads as they search for the third, who remains on the run.
"We will get you," Sheriff Leroy Ravenell warned in a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Ravenell was speaking to escapee Curtis Green and anyone who may be assisting him. "Come to us before we come to you," he said.
Green, 20, who is charged with murder and now also faces escape and first-degree assault and battery charges, has been on the run since Saturday night when he escaped along with Tyshon Johnson, also charged with murder, and Christopher Boltin, 27, who is charged with carjacking and grand larceny.
Johnson was captured Tuesday afternoon by U.S. marshals in Winston-Salem, NC, after being on the run for some 65 hours, according to Ravenell. Johnson was driving a black Ford Explorer stolen out of Virginia when he was arrested, and was in possession of a 22-caliber rifle, which he attempted to reach when approached by marshals, Ravenell says.
Boltin was captured Sunday in Lexington County. Boltin's father, 51-year-old Hoyte Boltin was also arrested and charged with helping his son after he left the prison.
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Green is now the only one of the three who remains on the run, and Sheriff Ravenell is appealing to the public for help in locating him. "We want him [Green] to be the most well-known individual in the country because we need to get him back behind bars."
The Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday a $2,500 reward is being offered by U.S. Marshals for information leading to Green's arrest. Marshals say he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Green, who is known to have ties in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and New York, is described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall weighing 160-170 pounds with "Monica" tattooed on his neck and two tear drop tattoos under his left eye.
As for anyone who may have or may be thinking of assisting Green, Ravenell warns that the investigation doesn't stop when when the inmates are captured. "We will find you," he says. "And I will personally put you in the same cell they escaped from."
As an example of how detailed the investigations are, Ravenell revealed that they learned Bilton had stolen a pair of sneakers from a lady's house just 54 minutes after his escape."
"This is not a game," Ravenell said "These are murderers that are running lose."
Ravenell also announced several new charges at the Wednesday afternoon briefing.
Bond was denied for Otis Goodwine, charged with two counts of aiding and abetting an escape and first degree assault and battery. Ravenell said Goodwine was one of the 'main players' in the escape. In addition to assaulting the corrections officer, Ravenell said Goodwine also tried to escape but was not able to make it out.
The judge also said he is to have no contact with the officer he allegedly assault, who was present during the Wednesday bond hearing. A victim advocate for the officer said he didn't suffer any serious injuries, and plans to get back to work in a different area than the escape.
Bond was also denied for Roosevelt Johnson and Tyrell Huggins.
Johnson is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting an escape. While he did not assault the officer, investigators believe Johnson put the plan into action. They say he asked the officer for materials to clean his cell, distracting the officer, then placing those items in a door to prevent it from closing.
Huggins is charged with attempted escape. Ravenell says Huggins made it out of the pod, but wasn't able to make it past the fence nor return to the pod. Huggins reportedly broke his foot during the attempted escape, where he was found stuck between gates at the detention center.
Tyree Hillard, a resident outside the detention center, had already been charged with assisting Green and Johnson in connection to the escape. Ravenell said Hilliard had conversations with the escapees before and after the escape. "There is no doubt there was actually a plan," he said.
Ravenell added he is sure there will be additional charges against other individuals as the investigation develops.
Regarding the escape itself, Ravenell explained that while they were aware of a disturbance at the jail, they could neither go in nor get detailed information because jail officials told them there was 'something wrong with the controls up front.' It was only after the issue was resolved that they were able to go in, get a head count and determine who was missing, Ravenell said.
"There were some problems that night but exactly what they were I can't tell you," Ravenell said.
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On a relate note, Ravenell also said that some 10 - 15 inmates were out in an area they were not supposed to be in due to the malfunction, and it is their belief that was part of the escape plan.
U.S. Marshal Tom Griffin with the South Carolina District also spoke at the briefing.
"We have unfinished business in Orangeburg," Griffin said about an incident in Orangeburg County last Thursday.
According to Griffin, U.S. Marshals and Orangeburg deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Derian James last Thursday. "As soon as they stepped away from their vehicles, they immediately began to receive gunfire from Derian James," he said.
Griffin said deputy marshals have been reassigned to Orangeburg from Columbia and Charleston to assist with both investigations.
"At a time and place of our choosing, these two individuals are going to be met with an overwhelming presence of law enforcement," he said. "When this occurs, they will have an option of surrendering peacefully or, based omn their decision, it could end very badly."
Griffin went on to encourage friends and family members of both Curtis Green and Derian James to urge them to turn themselves in. "Our goals is a safe and uneventful outcome."
If you think you see Curtis Green or have any information about his whereabouts, deputies ask you to contact the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office immediately at (803) 534-3550 OR contact Crimestoppers anonymously in any of the following ways:
- Call 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372).
- Use the P3 Tips mobile app.
- LOG ON to www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a Tip” tab.
Callers will remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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