People living near Stony Mountain Institution question protocol after 2 inmates escape

When your backyard looks into a prison yard, there’s always that fear an inmate could end up at your doorstep.

That’s what happened to Debbie Stovin about three years ago when a prisoner escaped from the Stony Mountain Institution.

“They actually traced the guy right to our door and they found him hiding in an old car in the back,” she said. “You’d think they’d be watched more closely.”

Two inmates escaped the same institution on Saturday night. The prison notified the RCMP but it took nearly 10 hours before a release was sent out to the public.

“I think we should be notified immediately because if you have small children, they’re walking to school or whatever,” Stovin said. “I take my dog for a walk, they could be hiding anywhere.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think we should be notified immediately because if you have small children, they're walking to school or whatever," Stovin said. "I take my dog for a walk, they could be hiding anywhere."

There is no alarm, the protocol is to contact RCMP. Some people in the community wonder if more could be done so people find out sooner.

“It would be nice if staff from the prison came by door to door,” Andrew Marsch said. “It should probably be better than through a family member texting or phoning us, I would say.”

The RCMP are taking over the investigation into finding the two men who escaped Saturday.

William Benjamin Hunter-Garrioch was serving a sentence of nine years for attempted murder. He is 21-years-old, 5-foot-7 and weighs 126 pounds. He is described as having a scar on his left wrist.

Dale Jacob Gilchrist is serving a six-year sentence for armed robbery and possession of property obtained by crime. He is 6-foot-2 and has tattoos on his neck, abdomen, chest, arms, hands and right leg.

Both have been unaccounted for since 9:30 p.m. Saturday night.

“They’re in Stony Mountain for some serious charges and they need to finish serving their time so it’s our priority to find them as fast as we can and bring them back,” Sgt. Paul Manaigre from the RCMP said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They're in Stony Mountain for some serious charges and they need to finish serving their time so it's our priority to find them as fast as we can and bring them back," Sgt. Paul Manaigre from the RCMP said.

He said the RCMP have received tips that the men could be in Winnipeg or Saskatchewan.

Correctional Service Canada declined a request for an interview but said an internal review will be conducted in hopes of preventing an escape from happening again.