Escaped prisoner didn’t get too far, busted with female accomplice at traffic stop
A Florida state prison inmate who slipped away from a work detail in Collier County on Tuesday didn’t get very far, thanks to deputies who arrested him and his female accomplice during a traffic stop. Westley Devon Shaw, 36, is charged with escape from prison and with being a fugitive from justice. His accomplice, 36-year-old Latasha Michelle Stillman of Lehigh Acres, is charged with harboring an escaped prisoner.
Detectives with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Vice and Narcotics Bureau received information that inmates from the Florida Department of Corrections were conducting off-site work in the area of Oil Well Road and State Road 29 near the former Hendry Correctional facility. The information indicated that some inmates were leaving the site without permission and may be involved in illegal narcotics.
Shortly after 8 a.m. on Tuesday, detectives observed a white Nissan Altima carrying a lone female driver, later identified as Stillman, enter the prison work site. When the Nissan exited the site a short time later it appeared to be carrying a front-seat passenger. The Nissan headed north on SR 29, traveling at speeds over the posted 60 mph limit.
Detectives conducted a traffic stop on the Nissan. During the stop, Shaw was identified as the front-seat passenger in the vehicle. He initially gave detectives a false name. He gave his real name after detectives questioned him about his muddy work boots.
Further investigation by detectives confirmed Shaw was a state prison inmate and was unaccounted for at the prison work site. Shaw and Stillman were placed under arrest on their respective felony charges.
Shaw was also charged with giving false information to law enforcement and possession of marijuana under 20 grams after a search of the vehicle turned up 19.1 grams of marijuana inside the center console.
Detectives also found Shaw’s prison uniform with his name on it under the rear passenger floorboard.
(Source: Collier County Sheriff’s Office)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
