On Monday, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Michael Abrams, 21, from the 1200 block of Atwood Road in Overbrook, for his alleged role in aiding in the escape of Nasir Grant and Ameen Hurst from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center. Abrams has been charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Hindering Apprehension, Escape and Use of a Communication Facility.
Earlier, police arrested Xianni Stalling, 21, for her alleged role in aiding in the escape. She faces the same charges as Abrams.
Grant has been captured.
Meanwhile, the city is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Hurst, who is wanted for escaping from PICC, at 8301 State Road, on Sunday, May 7, at 8 p.m. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward.
Both escapees cut a hole in a fence. The bumbling city Department of Prisons didn’t know of the escape for about 19 hours.
Hurst, 18, is black, 6 feet tall and 140 pounds. He has a tattoo on his left arm that reads, “Only the fam!!” His priors include several homicides, firearms and drug offenses and aggravated assault.
District Attorney Larry Krasner issued the following statement:
“The DA’s Office is in contact with the families impacted by the homicides we allege were committed by Ameen Hurst, as well as witnesses who may be called to provide testimony at trial. The safety of victims and witnesses who may be at risk of intimidation or retaliation is of the highest importance to our prosecutors and to the DA’s Victim Support Services Division.”
Democratic mayoral candidate Helen Gym said she will make a “long overdue” change in prison leadership.
“For years, alarm bells have been raised about basic safety and the conditions of our city prisons by corrections officers, incarcerated individuals, advocates, union leadership and members of City Council. These have largely fallen on deaf ears. Philadelphia’s prisons are in crisis. The profound mismanagement that has led to this enormous failure of public safety has long been evident.
“For over two years, city officials have been well aware that understaffing, a reliance on extreme and extended isolation, and lapses in basic security and healthcare have created unconscionably unsafe conditions. As a councilmember, I pushed for a Prisons Oversight Board to ensure the safety, security and dignity of incarcerated people and corrections staff. And yet even with clear evidence of the crisis in our prisons and public pressure, Department of Prisons officials and the mayor failed to act, putting incarcerated individuals, prison employees and our communities in harm’s way.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Marshals Service at 800-336-0102, Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153, 215-686-TIPS (8477) or 911, or visit phillypolice.com/forms/submit-a-tip
