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May 14, 2008

Area troopers involved in search for escapees

Press staff reports

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Some area Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers were involved in a search Sunday night and Monday for two Jess Dunn Correctional Center inmates in Taft.

Billy Ray Strickland, 43, and Ronald Dale Biven, 32, were seen during a head count at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, but couldn’t be located by 10 p.m. Troop Z, the OHP’s tactical team, brought in dogs to hunt for Strickland and Biven.

OHP Trooper Betsy Randolph, an OHP spokeswoman, said units from Troops C, D, B and the turnpikes responded to aid in the manhunt. OHP Capt. Bill James said Troop C personnel included OHP troopers from Cherokee, Sequoyah, Muskogee, Wagoner and McIntosh counties.

While at large, the escapees were considered dangerous by the Department of Corrections based on their past criminal history and conduct while in the prison system. Randolph said it was also determined one of the escapees was HIV-positive.

The dog track started at the point where authorities believe Strickland and Biven scaled the fence and continued to a location in a field near Boynton, she said. The escapees were located six hours after the tracking started. Randolph said two packs of dogs and four “mules” – all-terrain vehicles – were utilized.

The escapees gave troopers a statement indicating they had no help and were trying to work their way to Interstate 40 to catch a ride. Randolph said both men had previous escapes.

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