CUFFS OR BODY BAG
Cop’s choice for Sweat when caught:
IT’S UP TO escaped convict David Sweat if his 22-day taste of freedom ends with a return trip to prison — or a one-way ticket to the morgue.
Either way, a Franklin County sheriff said the 1,200 law enforcement agents chasing Sweat were getting closer Saturday to putting the convicted killer in cuffs.
“I think we’ll get a break in the case in 24, 48 hours,” predicted Franklin County Sheriff Kevin Mulverhill. “I’m confident we’re going to catch Sweat.”
Mulverhill, speaking one day after fellow fugitive felon Richard Matt was gunned down by authorities, said Sweat would ultimately determine if he departs the same way.
“That will be his choice,” said Mulverhill (below). “The same as it was with Matt. If he’s willing to surrender to law enforcement, then we’ll place him in handcuffs and we’ll bring him into custody.
“If he chooses to resist or chooses not to comply, then the results are his.”
The escaped murderer in his fourth week on the run could find weekend help from an unexpected source — Mother Nature.
The overnight forecast for ground zero of the manhunt called for a 100% chance of rain, turning heavy at times and likely to continue right through to Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
The horde of investigators pursuing Sweat hustled to find their quarry before the downpour that could wash away potential clues and help the inmate cover his tracks.
Authorities said Matt’s death was a serious blow to Sweat’s hopes of escape. The inmate no longer had a partner to keep an eye out when he needed a rest or to offer moral support.
“He’s tired,” said Mulverhill. “He’s hungry. He’s endured some bad weather. He’s going to make a mistake. It’s going to be a call very similar to Friday.”
State police said the hunt for the convicted killer focused on a 22-square-mile area along state Route 30 between county Route 41 in the town of Malone and county Route 26 in the town of Duane.
Tactical teams, K-9 units and helicopters were involved in the so-far-fruitless hunt for Sweat, 35, who was aided by a pair of prison workers in the daring June 6 bustout reminiscent of “The Shawshank Redemption.”
Cops were also searching vehicles at roadblocks in their search for Sweat.
The heavily wooded area is just 30 miles from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, where the convicted killers were behind bars.
Prison employee Joyce Mitchell admitted to sexual relationships with both Sweat and Matt, 49, before she provided them with tools to make their escape, authorities said.
Correction Officer Gene Palmer was charged with smuggling tools
tucked inside frozen meat into the prison for the two plotters.
Convicted double-murderer Matt, armed with a 20-gauge shotgun apparently stolen from a hunting cabin (left), was shot to death by a federal border patrol unit on Friday afternoon.
His half-brother said he was actually relieved to learn about the fatal shooting.
“I mean, it might sound bad, but I was in a way hoping this was the outcome,” said Wayne Schimpf to WKBW-TV in Buffalo.
“Thank God, this can finally end for me and my family.”
Schimpf, who testified against his sibling at trial, said he was always worried about Matt breaking out of prison.
“Right now, I can’t think of him as the Rick that I knew,” said Schimpf. “I can only think of him as the man who has threatened to kill me and has killed other people and escaped.’’