The people of Dannemora, New York, celebrated the capture of escaped prison inmate David Sweat Sunday night, with an impromptu rally on the street outside the prison from which Sweat and another convicted murderer, Richard Matt, escaped 23 days ago.
"It's been scary," said Rick St. Louis, who joined the celebration. "People couldn't let their kids out and play in the yard."
Northern New York had been holding its breath for more than three weeks after the killers tricked, drilled, and burrowed their way out of the maximum security prison. A Customs and Border Protection tactical team shot and killed Matt Friday in Malone during a confrontation. He was armed with a shotgun, police said.
Sweat eluded capture for two additional days. He was shot and taken into custody alive in Constable, New York Sunday afternoon.
Jessica LeClair of Dannemora said her community coming together was something of a collective sigh of relief.
"It's just good to be out here and supporting [corrections officers and other members of law enforcement] and saying 'thank you,'" LeClair said.
With signs, bells, flags, and cheers, the several hundred people gathered in Dannemora expressed gratitude to state troopers, sheriff's deputies, the correctional center's emergency response team, forest rangers, and many others who kept the area safe and worked such long hours during the manhunt.
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"This is the least we can do to support them," said Ryan Poe, 9, of Dannemora.
"They have put their lives at risk for us," added Katie Holland, another participant in the celebration. "Can't thank them enough; can't thank them enough."
In the end, the escapees claimed no new victims. They did, however, inspire in this community fresh appreciation for the men and women who step up during emergencies.
Several people in Dannemora Sunday night told necn they were glad David Sweat was taken alive. They said they hope he provides clues to corrections officials to prevent something like this from happening again.
