Police believe fugitives are in the city
By Laura Stradiotto/The Sudbury Star
Local News - Saturday, August 20, 2005 @ 11:00
Two convicts considered to be dangerous to public safety have escaped federal
custody and are believed to be in the Sudbury area.
Kenneth MacDonald, 38, was declared a long-term offender by a Sudbury judge in
2003 and was under a 10-year supervision order when he failed to return to a
Toronto halfway house after being released for a daily work permit for
employment at a roofing company.
MacDonald had previously served time for beating a man in a Sudbury hotel, armed
robbery and numerous assault-related offences.
Neil Young, 33, also known as Neil Pasanen, was serving a two-year, one-month
federal sentence for drug and firearm offences.
His criminal convictions include assault, robbery, firearms and drug
offences. Young was also a suspect in the bombings of Sudbury’s police station
in October 1996. However, the Crown attorney’s office dropped charges against
Young. Young wanted an anonymous tipster to testify against him, but the Crown
refused to release the name of the confidential informant.
Young, too, failed to return to a halfway house in Toronto.
“They’re known to each other but we don’t believe they are travelling
together,” said Det. Const. Thomas Urbaniak with the Provincial Repeat
Offender-Parole Enforcement (ROPE).
A warrant for Young’s arrest was issued May 23 by Correctional Services Canada
while MacDonald’s was obtained July 25.
The ROPE Unit has been in Sudbury on numerous occasions since May trying to find
the men. According to recent reports, both men have been spotted in the city’s
downtown area.
“We either received little or no assistance from acquaintances and now we’re
going this route,” said Urbaniak, on why it took police almost three months to
go public.
“We thought if we went to the media right away, it would drive them further
underground.
“Both men are considered extremely dangerous, don’t approach them and call
police,” said Urbaniak.
Urbaniak said if anyone is found helping the men, they could face criminal
prosecution.
“These guys have to eat somehow and they’re getting support somewhere,
either financial support through friends or family or through criminal
activity.”
If anyone has information to the whereabouts of Neil Young and Kenneth
MacDonald, contact Greater Sudbury Police immediately at 675-9171, or members of
the ROPE Squad at 1-888-870-ROPE, or Crime Stoppers at 675-TIPS.