New Details In Inmate’s Daring Escape, Capture After Manhunt

CHESHIRE, CT — The hunt for an inmate on the loose after a daring prison escape on Halloween night sounds like something out of a movie, but instead it was the scene in the quiet town of Cheshire on Wednesday. Luis Clarke, 25, was apprehended by authorities in Meriden less than three hours after escaping from the Cheshire Correctional Facility at 900 Highland Avenue on Wednesday night. It all began shortly after 7 p.m. when Cheshire and Connecticut State Police were informed of an escaped inmate.

A manhunt ensued with local police, state troopers and Department of Correction’s officials are all searching for Clarke. Cheshire Police initiated a reverse 911 call to area residents to notify them of the prison escape.

State Police say a preliminary investigation revealed that Clarke hid during a recreational break that was given between 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. An inmate count was conducted at 6:15 p.m. and Clarke was missing. A sweatshirt stained with blood was found near a tall barbed-wire fence along with a picnic table that was positioned upright to help Clarke scale the fence, according to police.

Soon after State Police were notified of the escape, Cheshire Police received a stolen vehicle report from a plaza located nearly a mile south of the prison. A pizza delivery driver told police his 2002 Toyota Avalon was taken from the parking lot and that his keys and cellphone were inside the car.

Police said a cellphone ping showed the phone was in Wallingford and later in Meriden. Clarke ditched the stolen car in a parking lot at Cheshire Academy and had a passing motorist take him to a residence in Meriden, according to police. He was then located and taken into custody by State Police K-9 units, along with Cheshire Police, the DOC’s Fugitive Team, area K-9 units and other authorities at about 9:25 p.m.

Clarke was charged with first-degree escape and third-degree larceny and was held on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 1.

“I would like to thank our law enforcement partners and commend the swift response from our own Fugitive Unit that apprehended Clarke in less than three hours,” Department of Correction Commissioner Scott Semple said.

Prison records show that Clarke had pleaded guilty to second-degree threatening and violation of probation for offenses committed in Bristol. His probation was revoked on July 2 for violation of probation. Prior to the prison break, Clarke was classified as a low-risk offender, according to state officials. Clarke last entered the system on June 29 and was sentenced in July 2018 to 18 months for a violation of probation.

Pictured: Luis Clarke, 25, of New Britain / Connecticut State Police

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