Prisoner takes gun, escapes hospital

On Wednesday Kevin Poke a high security prisoner was taken to the Maryland's Laurel Regional Hospital after complaing of chest pains while in the prison. Upon arrival to the hospital he overpowered his guard and took his .38 caliber revolver. Two other correctional officers entered the room where Poke disarmed the on officer carrying the weapon and forced both to the floor. An unarmed hospital security guard also joined into the room where Poke forced him to the floor with the other two officers leaving one of the guns he had attained behind him. He then ventured to the parking lot and stole a car from a fifty one year old man who suffered a gun shot wound to the head. (The man is said to be doing well) The hospital was in lock down for several minutes until authorities realized Poke had left the building and recovered the fifty one year old man's Toyota Camry shortly before one P.M. Poke was eventually tracked down shot and killed by the police in the area.

It is such a freaky thing when you think that one man can make such a difference. He did not just over power an ordinary citizen for his car but five security guards. Whether they were armed or not should not really matter but it brings into perspective the severity of our lack ot attention. That same hospital also encountered another escaped convict in November. He was found only a few hours later after taking a state troopers gun and running for it. When things like this happen it really makes you wonder if we treating our convicts to kindly. Everyone is entitled to medical treatment when in need of it but if convicts are using that as an excuse to get out of the peniteniary and are escaping from a lower security facility then maybe changes should be made. Poke only had shackles on his feet and was not handcuffed, for one if prisoners are going to be taken out of correctional facilities they should always be kept in handcuffs or sedated in some way so they are not given the chance of overpowering law enforcement and putting other people in danger.




































































http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/01/02/maryland.hospital/index.html?iref=mpstoryview