Evangeline Parish Sheriff Eddie Soileau has issued an update on the Pine Prairie Detention Center escapee, Brian Soileau.

     Sheriff Soileau wants the public to know that the state police as well as the U.S. Marshal’s Office and the Angola Chase Team are using blood hounds and a helicopter to canvass the area in which the escapee was last believed to be seen.

    Sheriff Soileau has asked the Angola Chase Team to remain in the parish overnight in order to reduce response time in the event the escapee is sighted. The targeted search area is between Pine Prairie and the Beaver community towards Oakdale. If any hunters or people outdoors spot anything suspicious such as someone running in the woods or identifies an area in the woods with blankets or other items suggesting someone may have slept in the woods, please mark the area well and contact 911 immediately.

    Additionally, the temperatures will be dropping tonight so if anyone spots a fire or smoke in the woods, or sees or hears suspicious activity in or around their home, please contact 911 immediately.

    The sheriff would like to note that Brian Soileau was in fact a state prisoner and not a parish prisoner at the time of his escape. He was in the custody of a State Department of Corrections facility owned by LCS located in the Village of Pine Prairie. He was incarcerated as a result of violating his parole and he is awaiting trial for a Bank Robbery which occurred on August 3, 2011 in the Village of Pine Prairie.

    The sheriff was disappointed to learn both that the electrical fence which would have likely prevented this escape was not properly functioning as well as the fact the escape warning horn which is intended to notify the public of such an escape was not sounded. However, the sheriff will conduct a thorough investigation to provide the public with answers to these questions and ensure that these privately owned State Prisons located in the parish implement policies and procedures to reduce the risk of such an escape in the future.

    In accordance with proper protocol and procedure, the Pine Prairie Police Department was the primary response agency, however the sheriff’s department responded to the scene as soon as they were aware of the situation. Although the Pine Prairie Chief of Police has had very limited participation in the investigation, the Sheriff has communicated closely with Pine Prairie Mayor, Terry Savant, with regard to all new developments.

     He emphasizes that the Sheriff’s Department will continue to work with all assisting law enforcement agencies as well as Pine Prairie Police Officers in dedicating its resources to the capture of Brian Soileau. Please direct any information which may assist law enforcement in the capture of Brian Soileau.

     The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Department along with State Police will keep the public updated as the situation progresses.