Felony charges expected to be filed in jailbreak
A Florence man who briefly escaped from the Marion County Jail last week most likely will face a variety of felony charges, according to Sheriff Lee Becker.
Patrick Clay, 26, Florence, is expected to be charged in Marion County District Court with aggravated assault of a corrections officer, aggravated battery of a corrections officer, aggravated escape from custody, possession of firearm by a felon, and possibly others. The firearm charge would have to be filed by federal authorities, Becker said.
The incident occurred at 4:41 p.m. Dec. 10 after Clay had been brought to the Marion County Jail from prison to appear in district court on a charge of indecent liberties with a minor, Becker said. Clay was convicted previously of two counts of aggravated battery against an infant and is serving a sentence with the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Clay had been transported by Marion County to the jail, had gone through the garage, and was going through the booking process when he struck and overpowered a corrections officer using the officer's keys to escape. The officer was treated and released at St. Luke Hospital, Becker said.
Off-duty officer Sgt. Jeff Soyez of the Marion County Sheriff's Office observed Clay leaving the jail from the back door, and apprehended him at 4:45 p.m. in a wooded area three blocks south of the jail, Becker said.
"Jeff saw him run out the back door. He called in and asked if Clay was supposed to be out and immediately went after him," Becker said.
Sgt. Soyez had already apprehended the subject before the first radio call went out regarding the escape, Becker said.
Marion Police Chief Michel Soyez and officer Robert Soyez assisted off-duty Sgt. Jeff Soyez in the arrest. Officers from Florence, Peabody and Hillsboro police departments all responded to the incident, Becker said.
During the short time before Clay was apprehended, a Marion citizen confronted Clay. Clay then attempted to assault the citizen with a nightstick taken at the jail from the corrections officer. There were no injuries to either the citizen or other officers.
Becker said he has conducted an internal investigation concerning the escape and found that procedures were not followed.
"If we had a more modern facility the jail doors would be electronically controlled and there would have been no motivation for the suspect to strike the officer for the keys," Becker said.
"The probes and camera we installed last year helped tremendously in this internal investigation," he said. However, the devices did not record the actual incident because it occurred in a corner, out-of-range.
"I'd like to commend off duty Sgt. Jeff Soyez for his quick thinking and action," Becker said, and also expressed appreciation to other area law enforcement officers.
Clay remains incarcerated at the Marion County Jail. Charges will be filed at a later date, Becker said.
