June 26 UPDATE: Search for escaped inmates continues in Franklin County
The New York State Police continue the search for David Sweat and Richard Matt.
On Friday, State Police announced that Franklin County continues to be the primary focus of the investigation.
Communities north of the village of Malone, toward the Canadian border will see a strong law enforcement presence on Friday as the search continues.
State Police have developed evidence in our search area that the suspects may be headed north toward Canada.
Law enforcement cannot get into the specifics of the evidence recovered while investigating this particular lead. The evidence is still being evaluated by a State Police laboratory as part of the investigative process, but based on what is known, law enforcement have a high degree of confidence in our conclusion.
Residents will also continue to see a strong law enforcement presence in the Town of Bellmont as the search continues there. State Police and our law enforcement partners are following all of our leads in this area.
On Friday, there are more than 1,100 federal, state and local law enforcement members involved in the search area. The collaborative effort between the law enforcement partners will continue until the inmates are captured.
Law enforcement officers continue to comb recreational trails in the region, inspect seasonal camps, and conduct ground searches of forested areas. Checkpoints are also continuing. Officers from state, federal and local agencies are involved in this effort. These agencies include Forest Rangers and Conservation Officers from the Department of Environmental Conservation, officers from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Plattsburgh Police, Vermont State Police, and the Clinton, Franklin and Washington County Sheriff’s Departments. All available assets are being deployed around the clock, including canine and aviation units.
State Police again want to thank the public for their support and want to continue to urge residents to continue to call 911 if they see ANYTHING out of the ordinary.
Do not hesitate to report any suspicious activity including any signs of a trespass, burglary or vehicle larceny. Contact 911, your local law enforcement agency, or the New York State Police to report any information related to this investigation at (518) 563-3761 or 1-800-GIVETIP. Tips can also be sent by email to crimetip@troopers.ny.gov.
