The inmate, Leighton Wayne Bates, 44, was secured without further incident and is being held in isolation pending State Police investigation.

No other inmates were directly involved.Using a homemade knife as a weapon, Bates took Cpl. McLauchlin hostage on the fifth tier of Cell Block D, a general population housing unit that houses 560 inmates in single and double cells. He forced her into a narrow plumbing chase that runs behind the five tiers of back-to-back cells. It has one entrance.

Cpl. McLauchlin was able to use her radio to report that she had been taken hostage.

 

“The corporal’s courage and experience contributed to the successful resolution of this critical incident,” said Corrections Director Max Williams. “Her fortitude combined with the measured, appropriate response of the staff at the penitentiary proved to be a winning combination in a situation that could have turned out differently.

 

“It is important that I acknowledge the partnership of the Oregon State Police, who not only responded and offered assistance in a number of ways, but will now investigate this incident. Our thanks also to the Salem police and fire departments, the Oregon Military Department, Oregon Emergency Management, the Department of Administrative Services, the Marion County District Attorney and the Governor’s Office for their assistance throughout.”

 

The criminal investigation is being led by the State Police who will prepare the case for the Marion County District Attorney. Additionally, the Department of Corrections will conduct its own full investigation and review.

 

Leighton Wayne Bates is serving 51 years for four counts of Robbery I, three counts of Rape I, two counts of Kidnapping I, two counts of Kidnapping II, Escape II, Inmates with a Weapon, Sodomy I, Supplying Contraband and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He has been at Oregon State Penitentiary since December 26, 2001.

 

Bates made headlines when he escaped from Oregon State Correctional Institution on December 24, 2001 by hiding in a pile of shrink wrapped milk cartons on a delivery truck. He was captured two days later by an alert member of the Department of Corrections Fugitive Apprehension Unit. While on escape status, he raped a Salem woman, and kidnapped the woman and her son. He was successfully prosecuted for those crimes. He was sanctioned to six months in Disciplinary Segregation and, as a maximum custody inmate, spent approximately 2.5 years in the penitentiary’s maximum custody Intensive Management Unit.

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