Community responds to inmate escapees from Blackburn Correctional Complex

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – Kentucky State Police are searching two prisoners who escaped from Blackburn Correctional Complex Sunday evening, but several residents who live behind the jail claim they were not notified.

“I haven’t heard anything or anything about this at all, so I didn’t even know there were refugees. I don’t know how good their security is,” admits John McCray, who moved to Lexington from Japan three years ago. .

According to state police, the two escapees did so by water truck. It is unclear how they ended up in the water truck.

Now police are asking the community to be on the lookout for 38-year-old Adam Ball of Russell Springs. Ball is a bald white man, 6 feet tall, 250 pounds, with blue eyes. As does 40-year-old Bradley Cornwell of Georgetown. Cornwell is also a white male, 6 feet tall, 175 pounds, with brown eyes. hair and blue eyes.

Cornwell and Bald’s last confirmed location was at Casey’s gas station off Ironworks Pike. Police believe the two are headed to Scott County.

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard anyone try to escape and I don’t understand it because some of those who escaped had a few months left to serve or less than a year,” Barbara Rudd explains . who has lived in the area behind the prison for 10 years.

Rudd claims at least ten prisoners escaped from Blackburn while she was living in that area. ‘I’m not really worried about that. Like I said, I have protection, I have firearms. I do have a dog, so if there is anything unusual in the neighborhood, I have very good neighbors.”

While Rudd isn’t concerned or shocked about the escapees, McCray says he wishes the prison or local police had alerted residents in the area.

“There should have been some kind of system, I think. I mean, I don’t think there’s going to be a police car driving down the street with a horn blowing its horn to say we have an escaped convict, but an alert like an amber alert would have been nice to have something like that,” McCray admits.

Several people on Facebook expressed their own possible sightings of the prisoners. Many mention areas such as South Broadway Stree, Payne Street and the intersection of East Jefferson and North Hamilton Streets.

However, that is what the Scott County Sheriff’s Office claims

“Since this morning we have received a number of reports of possible sightings. We have investigated every claim and so far they have been mistaken or we have not been able to find individuals matching the description in the area. We appreciate the vigilance of members of our community and encourage everyone to stay aware if you believe you are in the presence of either individual, please call 911 and do not approach them.”

Lt. Robert Tackett, Scott County Sheriff’s Office

The Department of Corrections released a statement saying:

^{“The safety and security of all state prisons and the communities and surrounding areas in which they are located is the top priority for the Department of Corrections.”}

Beth Moore, director of the Kentucky Department of Corrections’ Public Affairs Division

“I always talk about my wife and my daughter having your head on the turntable, looking around the parking lots and stuff,” McCray describes. “It doesn’t matter if someone has escaped from prison or is on your street, making eye contact is important to make sure you’ve seen them. That’s probably a very good first deterrent.”

The police advise anyone who has information about the two people to contact the local police, but do not approach the people.