| Tunnel at Penitentiary to be Filled In |
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TUNNEL TO BE FILLED IN TUESDAY
The unfinished tunnel discovered Thursday, June 12, at the Oregon State Penitentiary will be excavated and filled in on Tuesday, June 17. A pool representing TV, radio and print has been invited to cover the event.
The tunnel was sealed at 2 p.m., Friday, June 13, by a metal plate welded to the floor. Seven inmate suspects have been identified. Corrections Director Dave Cook today reiterated that those inmates identified by the State Police to be involved in construction of the tunnel, "... will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in addition to being held accountable through the prison´s disciplinary and classification systems."
The tunnel will be excavated Tuesday morning so Oregon State Police detectives can search for any additional evidence to supplement their investigation. It will be filled Tuesday afternoon with concrete, sand and gravel.
The Department of Corrections and the State Police also released information today about how the tunnel was discovered. A food service coordinator confiscated a mud-covered homemade lantern from an inmate in the kitchen´s loading dock area. He notified uniformed security staff which led to a search of the area and the discovery of the unfinished tunnel.
The lantern consisted of a round lamp similar to, but smaller, than a car head lamp. It was connected to a battery with tape. Wires ran between the lamp and the battery.
last revision 2-28-2000 peg cook
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