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Police: Escaped Greene Co. Prison Inmate Captured

WAYNESBURG (KDKA) -- State police say they have captured the man who escaped from the Greene County Prison over the weekend.

Waylon Hanlan, 27, scaled a fence at the prison Sunday night and ran into a wooded area.

He was brought to the jail on Dec. 11 for a probation violation and misdemeanor charges of fleeing, eluding and simple assault.

According to state police, Hanlan was taken into custody Tuesday in Dunkard Township after a brief chase. Investigators say he was with his brothers.

State police say one of their helicopters spotted Hanlan in a Honda Civic. As police cruisers approached the vehicle on Bald Hill Church Road, authorities say Hanlan and his brother, Shane, got out of the vehicle and ran away. Police caught up to Waylon and arrested him.

But Shane managed to escape and police are still looking for him.

"Waylon is in custody and isn't really describing much of anything at this point in time ," said Trooper Matthew Jardine, of Pennsylvania State Police. "Shane was involved. Shane was with him at the time, Shane Hanlan. He's still wanted by the Greene County Sheriff's Department, and we are still actively looking for Shane."

A third brother, Clinton Hanlan, fled the scene in the vehicle and made it to West Virginia before being arrested.

Trooper Jardine said, "After Waylon and Shane bailed out of the car, Clinton continued on in the Honda Civic into West Virginia, and was apprehended by Monongalia County Sheriff's deputies."

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Police say Waylon Hanlan allegedly made his escape plans while talking on the jail's telephone with his sister.

Hanlan's sister, 19-year-old Vanessa Hanlan, was arrested Monday and is facing felony charges of hindering apprehension or prosecution and conspiracy.

vanessa-hanlan
(Photo Credit: Greene County Jail)

According to investigators, when Waylon showed up at her home after his jail escape, she gave him a change of clothes.

Meanwhile, Waylon is back in the Greene County Prison after being arraigned on escape charges. His brother, Clinton, is being held in West Virginia where he is awaiting extradition. He will also face charges of criminal conspiracy and hindering apprehension.

Anyone who has seen or knows the whereabouts of Shane Hanlan is being asked to call the State Police barracks in Waynesburg at 724-627-6151.

State Police say while they're continuing to investigate the extent of everyone's involvement in the jail escape and planning, they say the Hanlan's are no strangers to area law enforcement.

Trooper Jardin told a press conference Tuesday, "They have a long history of running around in Greene County, nothing serious, but they do have some run-ins with the police, they've had some run-ins with the police over the years."

Stay with KDKA for a full report on this developing story on KDKA-TV News at 11 p.m.

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