Plotting a Prison Break | National Geographic

TL;DR

Colorado's special operations team prevents a dangerous escape plan at Sterling Correctional, saving staff members from harm.

Transcript

friday afternoon on the southwest yard at sterling correctional a normal rec time only a handful of prisoners have any idea that today is different from any other day but inside colorado's special operations response team is preparing for action over the past three to four weeks we've had some intel about a dangerous escape plans to include taking ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😤 The special operations team at Sterling Correctional gathered intel over several weeks to discover the escape plans.
• 😒 The inmates had planned to take staff members hostage and use pepper spray against them.
• 🔫 Concealed weapons, including shanks and homemade clubs, were found in the yard.
• 🤩 The inmates intended to breach the perimeter fences with a canteen truck, but the plan was unlikely to succeed.
• 🥺 Swift action from the tactical team led to no staff injuries or inmate deaths.
• 😤 The investigation by the intel team is ongoing to identify the ringleaders.
• ❓ This escape attempt was a serious threat, potentially resulting in fatal injuries.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the intel team discover the escape plans?

The intel team eavesdropped on inmate conversations, using audio technology that is even present in their cells.

Q: What was the inmates' strategy for initiating the assault on the guards?

The inmates planned to feign playing ball, and as one inmate reached for the ball, they would initiate the assault, triggering others to join in.

Q: What kind of weapons were the inmates planning to use?

The inmates planned to hide weapons like shanks and shivs in the volleyball sand lots and under the benches in the yard.

Q: How did the inmates plan to breach the perimeter fences?

They intended to use a canteen truck to ram through what they believed to be a weak point in the fence, using the cover of pallets and cardboard to avoid electric shock.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Colorado's special operations team foils a planned escape attempt at Sterling Correctional, after weeks of gathering intel on the dangerous plot.

• The escape was planned down to the smallest details, including taking staff members hostage, using pepper spray, and hijacking a food delivery vehicle.

• The inmates had concealed weapons, such as shanks and clubs, in the yard and planned to attack the fence at high speed using a canteen truck.