McNEIL ISLAND — An investigation of an escape attempt by a convicted child molester from the McNeil Island state prison revealed a string of mistakes, confusion and chaos and has prompted security improvements.
If it hadn’t been for the “good instincts” and sharp eyes of officer Jason R. Meyers, “this team is convinced offender (Donald) Dravis would have made it to the mainland,” investigators wrote in a Corrections Department report on the incident.
Investigators also acknowledged, however, that even Meyers “did not follow emergency response guidelines.”
Officers mentioned in the report would not comment through prison officials to The News Tribune of Tacoma, which obtained it in response to a public records request.
After Dravis walked out of the prison gate in December and boarded a ferry, investigators found, the prison staff apparently didn’t know what to do in an emergency, the escape siren wasn’t sounded, the shift commander wasn’t notified immediately and an escape response procedure wasn’t initiated for 25 minutes.
The episode resulted in a 30-point improvement plan, some of which has been implemented, The News Tribune of Tacoma reported.
The report recommended the prison develop a process for updating offenders’ photos as their appearance changes, revise orders concerning verifying identification and increase staff emergency training.
The last successful escape from McNeil was in 1992 when rapist Timothy Webb hid in a tractor-trailer full of furniture being taken by barge to the mainland. He was arrested in Spokane a week later.
Dravis’ getaway attempt has made officials in all of Washington’s 15 prisons more aware of the need for preparedness, deputy prisons director Earl Wright said.
“We don’t have a great number of escapes, knock on wood,” he said, “but because we don’t have them on a regular basis, we’re always challenged to stay at the level of alert we need to be at.”
Sean Murphy, associate superintendent at McNeil, said the prison has taken a “back to basics” approach that includes new security features, additional training and clarification of job duties.
Few details were released at the time of the incident. The report gave the following outline:
Dravis, serving time on first- and second-degree child molestation convictions, told investigators he decided to leave on the “spur of the moment” on the morning of Dec. 29, figuring that if he were caught on the outside someone would listen to his complaint that his release date had been unfairly extended.
He left his prison ID card in his room and was dressed in civilian clothing, as permitted for offenders at McNeil Island.
Accounts differ whether Dravis exited the facility alone or with a group of people. He was asked to show ID at one point but told an officer at the prison gate house he must have left it in his truck. Officer David T. Snow let him pass.
Meyers saw the exchange, thought he recognized Dravis, followed him to the ferry dock and boarded the ferry, then walked over to the inmate and said, “Dravis.” When Dravis looked up, Meyers asked what he was doing. Dravis said he had been released but couldn’t produce any paperwork.
Meyers called to verify and alerted Lt. Dennis Simons, the prison shift commander, that there might have been an escape. A prison team went to the ferry and talked Dravis into going back to the prison but reviewers said apprehension protocols weren’t followed and there was a lack of supervisory direction.
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