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| Standoff ends; hostage freed |
| By The Arizona Republic |
| Published: 02/02/2004 |
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Grateful for officials' patience and eager to see her daughter, the female corrections officer held inside a state prison tower near Buckeye for 15 days walked to safety Sunday evening to end the longest prison-hostage saga in modern U.S. history. One of the inmates who had held her captive at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis walked out before her, and the other after. "Thanks for not giving up on me," the officer told rescuers, who met her just outside the tower's door. She later told Corrections Director Dora Schriro: "Thanks for not rushing the tower. They would have killed me." Prison officials identified inmates Ricky Wassenaar, 40, and Steven Coy, 39, as the men who took over the tower and held two corrections officers after an escape attempt went bad early on Jan. 18. Coy is a rapist with a history of violence and convictions for aggravated assault. He was serving a 175-year sentence and was not eligible for release. Wassenaar has aggravated-assault convictions and fired at Tucson police during a robbery attempt while on parole seven years ago. He was serving a 28-year sentence. The female officer was released on the 15th day of captivity, eight days after a male officer was freed. Officials said the woman's release was held up by inmate indecision. Authorities still have not described injuries suffered by any of those involved or publicly disclosed whether the victims were sexually assaulted. Officials declined to elaborate on the negotiated release except to say that the inmates would be transferred to prisons out of state. They were to face numerous charges. Schriro and Napolitano met the helicopter as the officer arrived at Banner Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. The male officer who was held captive with her joined her at the hospital. Schriro said the female officer did not appear to be physically harmed and her voice was strong. A single mom, the officer asked for her daughter. For 15 days, negotiators haggled with the convicts while tactical units stood by for a possible assault. Prison officials insisted negotiations were the best chance for a peaceful ending, even as others second-guessed the decision. Such a tactical assault surely would have led to a bloody end inside the heavily armed tower, which is surrounded by fencing. It has been described as a fortress designed to be secure to those inside it. |
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