Nearly 24 hours after a pair of inmates escaped the Edmonton Institution for Women, police said the two women were once again in custody.
On Tuesday night, police said the escapees were arrested by officers in downtown Edmonton at about 8:30 p.m. They said a citizen called police after recognizing the women. Officers arrested the escapees in the area of 104 Street and 102 Avenue.
At around 8:40 p.m. on Monday, prison officials reported two inmates had jumped the east fence of the women’s institution and escaped from the facility, located at 11151 – 178 St.
Officers searched the area but were unable to locate 23-year-old Kelsie Laine Marie Mast and 20-year-old Samantha Faye Toope. Both have a history of weapons offences and police say they are violent offenders.
The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) said in a statement that their disappearance was discovered at 9:05 p.m. during an inmate count.
CSC said they are investigating the circumstances of the escape.
On Tuesday, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said “as soon as the situation was discovered, obviously CSC and the RCMP and local police authorities click into action to make sure that the proper searches are done and that the offenders are recaptured as quickly as possible.”
Police said the escapees will be returned to the custody of CSC.