LIMA – The Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction (ODRC), United States Marshal Service (USMS), Henderson (Ky.) Police Department, Kentucky State Police, Henderson County (Ky.) Sheriff’s Office, Allen County Sheriff’s Office, and local, state, and federal law enforcement partners continue to work toward the apprehension of one of two inmates who escaped from the Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution (AOCI) this week.
Yesterday evening, the Ohio State Highway Patrol released information to law enforcement agencies in multiple states on the escapees and the vehicle they were believed to be driving. The vehicle, a red Mercury Capri stolen from Auglaize County, was located by officers from the Henderson Police Department earlier today, and a pursuit ensued. Following the pursuit, James Lee was taken into custody, but Bradley Gillespie was not apprehended. Law enforcement officers continue to saturate that area in search of the escaped inmate.
To support the work to locate Gillispie, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has deployed resources to the Henderson area. Troopers from the Patrol’s Aviation Unit will aid in the search from the air, and troopers from the Patrol’s Special Response Team will help on the ground under the authority of the USMS. Additionally, troopers from the Patrol’s Office of Investigative Services will be assisting with the criminal investigation. The apprehension of Gillespie remains the focus of all involved.
The Patrol continues to investigate how Lee and Gillespie escaped. The safety of the community in the area of AOCI remains the priority of local law enforcement, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction. AOCI is operating with limited, controlled inmate movement and an internal investigation by ODRC is underway.
A reward of up to $21,000 remains in place for information that leads to the capture of Gillespie. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Findlay Patrol Post at 419- 423-1414 or the USMS at 1-866-4WANTED. If encountered, members of the public should not approach Gillespie and should contact 9-1-1 immediately. Relevant updates will continue to be provided at @OSHP_NWOhio on Twitter.
