An investigation into the escape of two violent offenders from a Vancouver Island prison resulted in 14 inmates across the country being bumped to higher-security institutions; the majority, nine, were from William Head Institution in Metchosin.
“Since the escape, we have revised our policies to strengthen the assessment process and decision-making involving minimum-security inmates,” said Martine Rondeau, of the Correctional Service of Canada.
Nine offenders were reclassified from William Head Institution minimum-security prison to a medium-security prison, said Rondeau.
The nine included James Lee Busch, 42, and Zachary Armitage, 30, who have each been charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Martin Payne, 60, who lived eight kilometres from the prison.
The pair escaped the minimum-security prison on July 7, 2019. They were recaptured two days later after an off-duty police officer out walking his dog spotted them in Esquimalt.
Police said Payne, a provincial employee and father of two adult daughters, died on July 8. His truck was located on July 9 in Oak Bay but his body was not discovered in his home on Brookview Drive until July 12.
Since the prison escape and killing, officials have demanded answers including why two inmates with violent pasts and previous escape attempts were placed at a minimum-security prison; why the police and area residents weren’t immediately alerted when the escape was detected; and why the escape took hours to detect and hours more to verify.
Since then, it has been revealed that Busch and Armitage were at Mission Institution and assessed for medium-security but that was overridden by a “sending” warden. It’s a decision which the receiving warden at William Head can’t refuse.
William Head security video, which was not monitored, recorded Busch and Armitage leaving at 6:45 p.m. on July 7 but they weren’t discovered missing until an 11 p.m. head count.
West Shore RCMP weren’t notified until 1:15 a.m. on July 8. Correctional Service of Canada posted public information at 6:21 a.m. RCMP posted information at 10:45 a.m. Community members complained they were out in the area and expected they’d be warned.
William Head will now immediately notify police and emergency officials who will then notify the community of any escape, said Metchosin Mayor John Ranns.
The Correctional Service said changes at William Head include “ensuring managers who work shifts have access and training to be able to review evidentiary video footage in a more timely basis” as well as establishing “clear and formal protocols” when relevant information about the risk an inmate poses “comes to light.”
William Head will add a headcount, above national requirements.
At a national level, the policy regarding reclassifications to minimum security has changed to include amongst other things: new requirements factors (including a psychological risk assessment); stronger requirements to explain an offender’s security assessment for minimum-security placement when there are differences between the assessment tools and clinical judgement; and strengthening the reassessment of prisoners who have escaped.
Langford Mayor Stew Young has called on Ottawa officials to come and share their investigation with those in the West Shore — the municipalities of Colwood, Langford, Metchosin and the Highlands.
In November 2019 Armitage was sentenced to an extra year for his escape from prison. Busch has yet to have his final sentencing hearing. He’s next scheduled to be in court Aug. 6 on the escape charge. Neither prisoner is on the Island.
On Sunday, Armitage and Busch had a telebail hearing and their next court appearance is scheduled for July 23.
