Escapee captured
A February 24, 2006 walkway, from the Class D program, was captured on March 4, 2006 in the Heath Community.
32 year old Leonard Greenfield had walked away from a work detail at Old Benton Road and Arizona Street.
The search for Greenfield, by deputy sheriffs and Jailer Bill Adams, had intensified Friday night, March 3, 2006, at a house on Metropolis Lake Road. The house, located across the street from Heath High School, was the apparent location of where Greenfield had made several phone calls. Caller ID was used to trace Greenfield’s calls. A vehicle that had been stolen from Greenfield’s girlfriend was found at the house. .38 caliber shells were found in the vehicle. Officers are believed to have missed Greenfield by about ten minutes.
The search was called off late Friday night and Jailer Adams headed home driving East on Noble Road. He then spotted a SUV, headed towards him, which he recognized as the same vehicle that had been parked at Greenfield’s last known address on Oaks Road.
Jailer Adams said, “There was no doubt in my mind that the driver was Greenfield because of the large mole under his left eye which I could see clearly.” Greenfield had shaved his head and goatee since his escape.
The jailer turned around and started pursuit of Greenfield and radioed Deputy Sheriff David Sheppard, who had just left Adams and lives on Noble Road. The fugitive turned down Pullen Road and into a bean field.
The officers lost Greenfield in the bean field since he turned his lights off and he had four- wheel drive on the SUV. Jailer Adams said that Greenfield was apparently successful in making his way back to a paved highway.
Early Saturday morning, March 4, 2006, an anonymous tip was received, while Jailer Adams was filling his vehicle with gas that Greenfield was back at the house on Metropolis Lake Road.
The renters of the house weren’t at home but the owner gave officers permission to search. Greenfield was found under a pile of clothes behind a recliner.
Jailer Adams spotting Greenfield while driving, on Noble Road, brought back memoirs of a similar incident that occurred to Jailer Joe Childs.
Jailer Childs had been in office for about nine months when a well planned escape occurred, at the 1936 jail, on Saturday, April 23, 1983. The escapees. Ronnie Daniels, William Montgomery and Kathleen Pangborn had fled the jail after locking three deputy jailers in the female cellblock.
On Sunday, April 24, 1983 Jailer Childs was returning to the jail from his home on Husbands Road and he passed the three escapees who were attempting to hitch- hike a ride. Childs who was in his pick-up truck, which the escapees didn’t recognize, radioed on a sheriff’s radio for assistance.
State Trooper Roger Simons, who lived a couple of blocks from where Daniels was spotted, had picked up Daniels by the time the jailer had turned around and arrived back at the scene. Jailer Childs took Montgomery and Pangborn into custody at gunpoint. None of the trio resisted.
Jailer Adams said that Greenfield apologized to him for walking away but he told Greenfield several people may be charged due to his escape. There is some indication that the fugitive may have received aid during his nine days of freedom. Greenfield also denied that he was driving the SUV that was pursued by the jailer on Noble Road. Adams said he is apparently saying this in hopes of avoiding an eluding police charge, which is a felony
Greenfield was charge with escape in the 2nd degree, which carries a $5,000 bond. He also still has the five year sentence to serve, on three charges, including trafficking in a controlled substance. Jailer Adams also says he could be charged with two persistent felony offender charges.
The Greenfield escape is the first for Jailer Adams since becoming jailer on August 1,2005.