News Releases

Prairies Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDMONTON, AB, March 1, 2005 - At 0600 hours on February 25, it was noted that a minimum security inmate had failed to return to the Grierson Centre from work release. Staff attempted to contact the inmate's employer without success and a staff member was dispatched to the inmate's place of employment. Police were notified.

The missing inmate is Howard Burgess, 43 years old, serving an aggregate sentence of twenty-one years, six months robbery. His sentence commenced on July 9, 1990 and was due to expire on January 1, 2012. He is 178 cm tall (five feet, 10 inches), weighs 88 kilograms (194 pounds) and has a fair complexion with brown eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Mr. Burgess is asked to contact police.

The Grierson Centre is a minimum security institution that accommodates 30 inmates. Grierson Centre is part of the Grierson Complex located at 9530 101 Avenue in downtown Edmonton.

Minimum security inmates are those who are rated as low escape risks, low risks to public safety in the event of an escape and have been progressing well with their correctional plans.

This is the third failure to return from an authorized pass experienced by the Centre this fiscal year (since April 1, 2004).

The Correctional Service of Canada will be conducting a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this escape.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Frank Winkfein
Director
Grierson Centre
(780) 495-4803