Police Kill Escaped Inmate During Shootout
posted 2:09 pm Thu January 03, 2008 - Laurel, Md.
The inmate was identified as 45-year-old Kelvin Poke, who was serving life plus 40 years at the Jessup Correctional facility after he was convicted of kidnapping, carjacking and robbery. Prince George's County police spokesman Henry Tippett says officers spotted a white Ford Explorer with two flat tires about 3:30 p.m. and followed the vehicle into the cemetery.
Investigators say Poke exited the SUV pickup truck and fired at officers, who returned fire, fatally wounding Poke. Police say there was a woman in the vehicle with Poke at the cemetery. She was identified as Poke's girlfriend. Poke had last been seen in D.C., near 53rd & Fitch streets, NE, driving the white, government Ford Explorer (D.C. tag DC 3690). It all began about 8:15 a.m. at Laurel Regional Hospital, where investigators say Poke overpowered the armed correctional officer that was guarding him. Poke was not handcuffed at the time.
The second officer assigned to guard Poke was taking a break at the time. The second officer and another armed officer who was guarding another prisoner both responded to help the first one.
Investigators say Poke disarmed them by holding a gun to the first correctional officer's head.
Investigators believe Poke used one of the guns to shoot off the manacles on his legs.
A hospital security guard heard the shots and went to the room. Investigators say Poke used the hospital security guard as a human shield, holding a gun to his head as he went down to the first floor of the hospital.
Authorities say once outside, Poke carjacked a blue Camry from a man waiting to pick up a hospital employee. Investigators say Poke fired a shot through the vehicle's driver-side window, hitting the driver in the head. The driver is expected to survive.
Poke then made his way into the District, where according to D.C. authorities, he set the carjacked vehicle on fire in the 1,100 block of 1st Street, NW. He then carjacked the D.C. government SUV.
In November, a prisoner escaped from the Laurel hospital after taking a state trooper's gun and firing shots. He was captured hours later following an intense search.
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Latest Comment on Police Kill Escaped Inmate During Shootout
OldWVGuy
11:05 am on 01/04/08
Guliel - the problem is not with the gun. There is absolutely no reason that even a big guy like that should be able to overpower the guards if reasonable procedures are undertaken.
He should have been in restraints the whole time. Also, the guards should be well versed in weapon retention.
The reason he could escape is due to a lack a vigilence on the part of the guards. Plain and simple.
Just my 2 cents.
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