The run of a criminal considered dangerous after his spectacular escape from prison in the northeastern United States has the police on their teeth and upsets the life of a county in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where schools were closed on Wednesday for security purposes.
Nearly a week after the escape of Danelo Cavalcante, a 34-year-old Brazilian who had just been sentenced a few days earlier to life in prison for the stabbing murder of his former girlfriend, “hundreds of “Law enforcement officers are working 24 hours a day using helicopters, drones and dog units to locate the fugitive,” the Chester County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
The man, with black hair and beard collar on the wanted notice issued by the authorities, was seen Monday evening on video surveillance images of a botanical garden normally open to the public, but which remained closed on Wednesday, in the small town of Kennett Square, west of Philadelphia.
“Last night (Tuesday), a resident saw him again”, in the same area, “the teams looked for him for hours but could not find him”, announced during a conference of urges Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Authorities consider the fugitive, who escaped through the roofs of the Chester County Jail, dangerous. His escape, a video of which was captured by a camera was released Wednesday by the authorities, is as spectacular as it is embarrassing for prison officials.
On the extract, we see the prisoner, white T-shirt, blue pants and white sneakers, hiding in a recess in the courtyard, then climbing nimbly, spider-man style, his body horizontal between two walls , and disappear.
“You’re dealing with someone who is desperate and doesn’t want to be caught,” George Bivens warned.
He underlined the risk that he would burglarize homes to find something to hold on to during his run and asked residents to close their doors and their vehicles.
“He has obviously already procured clothes and other unidentified things, and we want to minimize any possibility of him getting anything more. It’s important that we keep the pressure on him as we continue the hunt”, underlined the lieutenant-colonel.
“This is the first time in nine years that I have needed to close the door of my house when leaving for work,” testified in the daily Philadelphia Inquirer, a resident, Joe Delahanty, who said he had been stopped four times by police Wednesday morning.
Schools in two school districts also closed Tuesday and Wednesday, officials apologizing to parents but citing safety concerns and the need to facilitate police searches.
Danelo Cavalcante was sentenced on August 22 to life in prison for stabbing his former girlfriend to death, in front of the victim’s child, during an argument in April 2021. According to the police, he is also wanted for a murder committed in Brazil.
Rewards totaling $20,000 have been promised by the courts and police to help locate him.
07/09/2023 02:39:01 – New York (AFP) – © 2023 AFP