Four Inmates Escape from Chesterfield County Detention Center
Chesterfield, South Carolina
Four inmates have escaped from the Chesterfield County Detention Center on Monday night, raising serious concerns about security and staffing levels at the facility. The escapees, identified as Emanuel Robson Planco, Anton Conway Bennett, Kyonne Marquise McLeod, and De’Shawn Malik Fox, are now wanted by law enforcement for escape and other related charges.
The Escaped Inmates
Planco and Bennett were serving time for stealing a vehicle, while McLeod was charged with breaking into a vehicle. Fox, an inmate from another county in South Carolina, was incarcerated for armed robbery and assault by a mob. The Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for these four men, with a warrant already issued for their arrest. If caught, they could face an additional 15 years in prison.
Details of the Escape
The escape occurred late at night, around 11:30 PM on Monday. According to Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater, the last headcount of inmates conducted at approximately 6:00 PM showed all inmates accounted for, but the next headcount around 5:00-5:30 AM on Tuesday revealed that the four men were missing.
Initial investigations indicate that the inmates escaped through an air conditioning vent that led them into a maintenance area containing the facility’s HVAC and plumbing systems. From there, they managed to kick down a locked steel door that provided access to the outside. Surveillance footage has been instrumental in piecing together the chain of events that led to their escape, which occurred undetected for several hours.
Staffing Issues and Facility Concerns
In the wake of the escape, Sheriff Streater expressed his concern over the incident, emphasizing that he, too, is a resident of Chesterfield County and wants the issues addressed. He identified a staffing shortage as a key factor in the escape, stating that the facility was “short-staffed” at the time of the incident. While the jail has typically been properly staffed in the past, Monday night was an exception.
“I would call this a scheduling issue,” Streater noted. “If I knew they were going to be short-staffed, we would have had somebody there.” The sheriff indicated that the aging infrastructure of the detention center may also have contributed to the escape, as the facility is often operating over its designed capacity. “We’re averaging about 130-135 inmates a day, while we can comfortably house 95,” he explained.
Next Steps
Streater indicated that a thorough investigation is underway to determine how the escape occurred and who may be responsible for the lapse in security. This includes examining whether any staff were negligent or asleep during the time of the escape. He also announced that he and his command staff will seek to obtain their Jail Certification to better assist with staffing issues in the future, especially until plans for a new jail are realized.
Law enforcement officials are urging the public to come forward with any information regarding the whereabouts of the escapees. Tips can be reported to the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 843-287-0235.
