Va. Prisoner who Escaped Hospital to Serve 32 Years
Wossen Assaye’s escape prompted security reviews by federal marshals and the Inova Fairfax Hospital.
The man who sparked a nine hour manhunt after escaping from a Virginia hospital was sentenced to 32 years in prison October 9.
Wossen Assaye, 43, was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Both counts stem from his armed assaults during his escape from Inova Fairfax Hospital in March, according to wusa9.com. Assaye had also plead guilty to a series of armed bank robberies in the northern Virginia area.
Campus Safety had previously reported on Assaye’s March 31 hospital escape. In that incident, Assaye overpowered an armed security officer, took her gun and fired a shot inside the hospital. As he fled the facility he used the hired security officer as a human shield. Assaye was recognized by a bystander hours later and captured shortly after.
Assaye was originally taken to the hospital after attempting suicide and was initially guarded by Alexandria sheriff’s deputies. But the prisoner’s supervision was taken over by the private security firm Allied Protection Services after 24 hours.
Since the escape, the firm has come under scrutiny for falsifying its employee list, according to wjla.com. The firm had been receiving assignments from the U.S. Marshals Service until the fake employee revelations.
Federal Marshals have since cut their ties with Allied Protection Services and reviewed their security procedures. Inova Fairfax Hospital has also reviewed its security procedures, though it’s unclear if any changes were made after discontinuing its contract with Allied Protection Services.
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