1 Ind. Prison Escapee Caught, 2 on Lam

Hunt Still On for Inmates Considered Dangerous After Breakout from Maximum Security Prison

(CBS/AP)  One of three men who escaped from a maximum-security prison in Michigan City this weekend has been caught in a southwestern Michigan town by a security guard for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

Grand Beach Police Chief Dan Schroeder told CBS Affiliate WSBT that Charles Smith was apprehended at gunpoint in the driveway of a home in Grand Beach, the summer home of Mayor Daley.

Schroeder said police got a call Monday that a private security guard for Daley was holding the inmate at gunpoint in a home's driveway near the mayor's house, which is about eight miles from the prison.

A woman had become involved in what Schroeder described as a "verbal altercation" with one of the suspects, reported WSBT. No one was injured, but the woman called police.

Smith, 48, originally from New Castle, Ind., was convicted of murder and sentenced in 1999 to 95 years.

Authorities were still searching for the two other inmates.

Prison officials said the men were discovered missing about 10 a.m. Sunday.

A state prison agency spokesman said it appeared the three escaped by somehow getting past bars in the tunnels and pipe chases under the grounds of the prison about 30 miles west of South Bend.

Authorities identified the two still missing as:

Mark Booher (left), 46, white, of New Castle, Ind. Booher was sentenced in 1999 to 65 years for murder, and 20 years consecutively for robbery - Class B felony. His projected release date was May 11, 2041.

Lance Battreal, 45, white, of Rockport, Ind. Battreal was sentenced in 1998 to 50 years for rape - Class A felony, 20 years concurrent for criminal confinement - Class B felony, and 3 years consecutive for stalking - Class D felony. His projected release date was October 16, 2047.

Battreal may have recently cut his hair or shaved it.

Anyone with information regarding these offenders should notify their local law enforcement agency. Both men should be considered dangerous.

[TheMasses0009]

Bunch of murdering thugs they are!

[gunownerdan]

I find it amazing that somemone like Mayor Daley who hates guns so much and blames them for all our problems would rely on armed guards for his protection. What a hypocrite!

[drthvader]

I have never called anybody on a comments board a nazi, but you sound like one.
"A place to reform or die trying".
You, of course, sound like you would like to bring back the days of "striped britches" and the ball and chain.
How about the wrongly accused? How about all the crimes and misdemeanors perpetrated by the authorities themselves?

[speakinup22]

I believe prison should become a new source of energy. All prisoners should be required to walk on stairstep machines 8 hours a day, with their weight used to create energy.

If they refuse, they don't eat.

Prison should NOT be TV, 3 hots and a cot, and a place to get your PhD in Theivery. It should not only be a place to keep people away from society, it should be a place to FEAR!

Inmates should be made to understand that guards are there to protect them from others. Camera's should be covering every square inch of the place so that allegations can be witnessed.

Perpetrators of further crimes get tried and if a capital crime executed IMMEDIATELY. No review if on tape and undisputable. Human garbage needs to be exterminated.

No coffee, no air conditioning, limited weight sets, no conjugal visits, only non-contact team sports for entertainment. Just a pure big brother atmosphere for our law breaking friends. A place to reform, or die trying.

Anyone caught trying to be a tough guy towards authority takes solitary until he breaks.

A place to reform, or die trying.

[djseavy]

Somehow getting past bars and pipe chases? How do three violent prison inmates "somehow" get past these barriers? For all the money spent on prison security (our tax dollars) it seems incredible that this could happen in a maximum security institution.