Escaped Putnamville inmate found asleep in pickup

Friday, October 23, 2020 ~ Updated 11:45 AM

Having walked away from a Putnamville Correctional Facility work line seven hours earlier, offender Christopher Davis is taken into custody Friday evening after he was found sleeping in a pickup truck southeast of the prison.

Courtesy photo/IDOC

PUTNAMVILLE — A Putnamville inmate was located asleep in a pickup truck Friday evening after seven hours on the lam.

Christopher Davis, 34, of Scottsburg, was found sleeping in the vehicle at 8:12 p.m. in the area of 7100 S. CR 25 East.

Davis was working outside the facility early Friday afternoon, which he was authorized to do, when he walked away around 1 p.m.

Agencies taking part in the response included DOC Emergency Response Operations, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana Conservation Officers and Indiana State Police.

“I would like to thank all law enforcement personnel that assisted in the apprehension efforts — Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, State Police and DNR Conservation Officers,” Warden Dushan Zatecky said. “Emergency Response Operations responded in an extraordinary quick time, which played a vital role in our efforts. It was a collaborative effort that ended successful.”

Serving a two-year sentence for burglary out of Scott County, Davis had been eligible for release as early as March 2021. He also served a stint with the DOC for a 2010 burglary and battery conviction out of Clark County.

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Where was the guard, or do we just let them out on their own, and tell them to be a good boy and not run off. INTERESTING

-- Posted by becker on Fri, Oct 23, 2020, at 3:07 PM
First. Officer. We aren’t guards. We don’t guard anything. We are officers of the law. Second. The officer that work the labor line has to supervise multiple offenders. So it’s entirely possible that he just walked away when the officer was busy with another inmate.

-- Posted by AidenHall8615 on Fri, Oct 23, 2020, at 9:04 PM
Very well stated AidenHall8615! Some seem to forget that "Officers" are also human and like ALL humans can get their attention turned in a different direction. Becker's comment is ridiculous and short sided!

-- Posted by Leroy123 on Fri, Oct 23, 2020, at 9:45 PM
It is possible for an inmate to earn a better job with more freedom of movement with good conduct. Most of them won’t risk that privilege by trying to escape. This one apparently did, and won’t earn that trust back anytime soon.

-- Posted by techphcy on Fri, Oct 23, 2020, at 10:57 PM
What was the inmate thinking? He was due for release in less than 6 months. I wonder how long a sentence he will receive for escape?

-- Posted by Alfred E. on Sat, Oct 24, 2020, at 7:27 AM
For some people being in prison is a security blanket so they don't have to get out.

-- Posted by donantonio on Sat, Oct 24, 2020, at 5:34 PM
Becker....They are called correctional officers not guards. Where have you been the last 30 years? Don't comment if you don't know the current information.

-- Posted by Queen53 on Mon, Oct 26, 2020, at 9:57 AM
LoL - I like how it supposedly makes a difference to be called a "correctional officer" as compared to a prison guard when its the same job.

Perhaps there is some sort of prestige in the guards mind when they look themselves in the mirror and say 'correctional officer'.

-- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Tue, Oct 27, 2020, at 8:13 AM

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