LAWRENCE CO., Ill.—In one of those bizarre situations folks living in the vicinity of a state prison are generally always in fear of, a call came in to Lawrence County tonight from a homeowner worried as to whether there were any escapees…since someone was knocking on their windows.While we don’t have the exact address, we’ve been told that the location was across U.S. 50 from the prison, second home on the right, with this incident occurring at about 7:45 p.m.
There, it was described that there were “people trying to get inside a house by the prison.” Two homeowners were inside the house, both of them armed. They apparently called the prison asking if there had been any escapees, and telling those at the prison that there were “people knocking on their windows.”
They also asked the prison “if it were okay to fire” if someone tried to break in.
Law enforcement from both Lawrence and Richland counties had responded to the call, and had attempted to make contact with the homeowners, but there was no answer. You can hardly blame them…hard to tell the difference between whomever was harassing them by knocking on windows, and the knocking of a deputy.
Signs remain around most prison properties in Illinois, working motorists not to pick up any hitchhikers. Those constant, mute reminders probably keep residents on edge if they live in the vicinity of the state’s many prisons.
If we learn more, we’ll bring it.