Chesterfield Co. neighbors call for more secure detention facility after third day of missing inmates

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — There is an underlying sense of fear in Chesterfield County neighbors, with three detention center inmates still on the loose .

Neighbors living less than half a mile from the jail say the escapes are becoming excessive and county officials need to do something soon.

“It’s not ever been as bad as it is right now,” said a neighbor close by. “It’s very horrifying to get a text at 5:00 in the morning to tell you when you go out to your car, just be aware of your surroundings because there are escaped prisoners.”

The fourth inmate, Emanuel Planco, was captured in Richland County early Thursday morning. Neighbors say it’s been three days since the escape and they’re scared.

Queen City News

Four Chesterfield County Inmates Escape

1 of 4 escaped Chesterfield County inmates captured in Richland County: Sheriff

Deputies still searching for four Chesterfield County escaped inmates

Manhunt underway for four Chesterfield County escaped inmates: Officials

One family told Queen City News they’ve lived near the jail for over two decades, and don’t want to move. But with escapes over the past two years , they haven’t had peace.

“Now when you come out of the house, you’re like ‘I need to carry something’ ’cause you don’t know who’s around the corner, who’s got out. It’s just a bad situation,” one man said.

He says he had to escort a released inmate off his property with a gun one time. He says he never wants that to happen again.

Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater says authorities received a tip Wednesday of someone matching the description of a missing inmate—walking on foot in the Lee Parks Road area.

Officials were unsuccessful in finding anyone, despite using tracking dogs, drones, and a helicopter.

“We’re going to look at what happened, where responsibility lies. And are we going to we’re going to fix it? If it means making changes in personnel, we might change the personnel so that we can do what we have to do to make sure we’re not out here in this kind of weather and in this area again,” Sreater said.

Neighbors say the county needs a new jail, but the issue with that—money.

They tell QCN they wouldn’t mind a small sales tax increase if it meant raising money for a more secure facility, rather than a millage rate increase.

Streater says his office is continuing to investigate how these inmates got out and how others got out.

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