Opinion ID: 2623374
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: facts pleaded by blake

Text: [¶ 7] Resolution of the issues presented must rely on the well-pleaded factual allegations contained in Blake's amended complaint. At least two of the prisoners who escaped on September 10, 1999, including Graumann, were dangerous criminals who had a history of escaping from incarceration. Graumann and several other prisoners were permitted to go into the exercise yard, having in their possession objects fashioned for the purpose of an escape. It was nighttime and the prisoners were unsupervised. Both NCDC and the prisoners knew that there were blind spots in the video monitoring system for the exercise area. The prisoners gathered in one of the blind spots and remained there for a protracted length of time, unguarded and unmonitored. The prisoners had enough time to attach a heavy rope made of bed sheets to the fenced top of the exercise area. They took turns climbing to the top of the exercise area. They cut a hole through the wire fencing that covered the top of the exercise area that was large enough so that they could pass through the wire, and then cut through the razor wire at the top of the jail. A citizen called to notify NCDC that a jailbreak was in progress, but that warning was ignored for 15 to 20 minutes. The prisoners climbed down the outside wall of the jail and proceeded to steal a 20-foot-long moving van parked nearby. [¶ 8] Blake alleged that personnel of NCDC knew that, given an opportunity, Graumann would attempt to escape, as well as that if he did escape, he would likely commit other crimes to obtain vehicles, cash, credit cards, clothing, and other items necessary to avoid recapture. Graumann posed a high risk of serious injury or death to citizens who crossed his path if he did escape. Natrona County was aware that Graumann, and one of the other inmates involved in the escape, had escaped from other penal institutions and were dangerous criminals. [¶ 9] As mentioned, during the escape a citizen called NCDC to report that the escape was in progress. The citizen then called a second time to report that prisoners had actually succeeded in escaping from the jail. These warnings were ignored. Natrona County authorities were then made aware that the prisoners had stolen a conspicuous white van with bold black lettering on the side panels HOME INSULATION. The authorities were given the license plate number of that vehicle. Law enforcement agencies outside of Wyoming were not notified of the stolen van or that it was driven by two dangerous prison escapees. Once in Colorado, the prisoners were not actively pursued by police officials. In Colorado, Graumann murdered O'Brien and stole his car, cash, credits cards, and other items to further his escape. Graumann was eventually arrested in Missouri driving O'Brien's car and in possession of other items that had belonged to O'Brien.