By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Residents living near a federal prison satellite camp said they were not officially notified after inmate James Cangro escaped Wednesday morning, raising questions about the notification process and why he was housed at the low-security facility with his violent criminal history.
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Cangro was in the satellite camp at the prison on Wilmot Road. Those kinds of camps are designed to allow low-risk inmates, who are tasked with duties such as landscaping, to avoid being constantly checked in and out of a more secure facility. The lower security means more opportunity for escapes, which have occurred at facilities around the country.
Resident Angel Lopez said the situation has caused fear among people living close to the facility.
“It’s terrifying for people, you know, especially living so close to the prison,” Lopez said.
Wendy Palmer said she saw officers in her neighborhood after returning home, but was not given any information.
“Came back home about an hour later and officers were in the neighborhood, scattered throughout. They didn’t stop or say anything,” Palmer said.
Palmer and others said they only learned of the escape through Facebook and said they still received no information from officials, even after Cangro was caught.
Citing Cangro’s history of drug and gun charges as well as being connected to a violent prison gang, Lopez said he feared for his children’s safety.
“When I found out, I was like, I called her immediately, like, ‘Make sure you’re not home- Mm-hmm.’ … or if you are, lock all your doors, and don’t let nobody at the house. If someone’s knocking, make sure you can… you look to your camera first,” Lopez said.
Vail Academy and High School is a few miles from the satellite camp. Palmer’s grandson attends the school. There was no lockdown or notification issued for the children’s safety, according to Palmer.
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“The kids were literally right here with the police, uh, in the neighborhood, getting off the school bus, and we had no idea what was going on. My grandson goes to school across the freeway, and we heard that this escapee could have been in that area,” Palmer said.
Federal authorities have not answered why the public was not officially notified.
An anonymous source who previously worked at the state prison said the process of confirming a missing inmate usually takes about an hour, followed by another hour to set a perimeter and contact local authorities, after which the public is usually notified.
That process may not be the same for federal facilities and could vary, or even shorten, for walk-offs from satellite camps, according to the source.
Long-time residents who spoke off camera said they have received notifications for past escapes. Palmer said any notification would have eased residents’ fears.
“I would like to see an official alert, text, something like that. And since the police were in the neighborhood, maybe even, I don’t know, knocking at doors,” Palmer said. “Any type of alert would be better than nothing.”
Federal authorities, when asked about the notification process and why Cangro was being held at the facility, responded with the same news release previously issued and said they had no further comment.
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