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Inmates who escaped Lebanon correctional facility located, back in custody

Community Correctional Center of Butler Clermont and Warren Counties
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LEBANON, Ohio — The last of three inmates who escaped a correctional facility in Lebanon, Ohio early Wednesday morning has been captured, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Office.

Middletown police said a caller's tip about Glynis Thompson's location led them to the intersection of Miami Avenue and Franklin Street, where they surrounded the area and used a drone and police K-9s to bring him into custody without incident.

The Warren County sheriff's office said Thompson and two other men, Dylan Howington and Cody Roberts, escaped from the Community Correctional Center, which has no affiliation with the sheriff's office, around 1:40 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The three men were able to break two windows and escape. All three ran from the facility; Hawington and Roberts were caught by the Monroe Police Department shortly after the escape, the sheriff's office said.

The pair were arrested in a field near the Solid Rock Church after initially attempting to run from officers.

Body camera released by the Monroe Police Department shows Hawington and Roberts were still wearing their correctional center outfits when they were taken into custody.

Thompson, 37, was located Wednesday evening in the Middletown area, officials said.

"The Warren County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the citizens, the media and the Middletown Police Department for their efforts in locating this individual," the sheriff's office said.

According to the sheriff's office, Thompson has a history of violence. Thompson faced multiple charges in Butler County. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to charges of domestic violence and endangering children. Thompson was accused, along with his girlfriend, of beating her 3-year-old child nearly to death.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

The Community Correctional Center from which the three men managed to escape is a Talbert House facility intended to house inmates for less than six months at a time. The center is designed to house inmates convicted of probationable offenses, or inmates who were "sentenced through the Common Pleas Court on a felony offense."

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Talbert House said Thompson was referred to the Community Correctional Center on July 5 as a condition of his post-release control.

"Talbert House is in full cooperation with law enforcement," reads the statement. "The safety of our clients, staff and community are the primary concern. We encourage anyone with information to assist with the location of this individual."

This isn't the first-time inmates have escaped from the community correctional center.

Two inmates also escaped back in 2018. They also got out by breaking a window.

A spokesperson for the Community Correctional Center said from preliminary review, they have not had anyone else escape the facility since 2019. Three clients have escaped staff while out in the community.

WCPO reached out to the correctional center to find out what's being done to prevent more inmates from getting out in the future.

They provided the following statement:

"We take this breach of security very seriously. We are reviewing all available data to assess the situation and make any possible improvements to the facility and/or procedures for the future. As a staff secured facility, we are unable to use physical restraints. We use best practices that have been researched and shown to increase positive outcomes for justice -involved clients. These 3 individuals reflect poorly on the overall success of the approximately 500 clients we serve a year at the facility who are working hard to reintegrate back into the community successfully. "

WCPO asked Middletown Police Chief David Birk if he is concerned about the security at the facility and the potential of allowing dangerous criminals into the Middletown area.

"It's happened in the past," he said. "I mean, we're not concerned about it. Again, they get the information out right away. I think three suspects left and they had two in custody right away."

Those who live in the area are breathing a sigh of relief these inmates are back in custody.

"Definitely makes me feel safer, especially with kids of my own."

A judge set bond for each inmate at $500,000. All three were found guilty of escape by a judge.

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