Prison Escapees Fail--Again

Two maximum-security prisoners with homemade knives overpowered guards, stole their uniforms and escaped Friday on their way to a hearing on a 1998 escape, officials said. They were captured a few hours later.

Four guards were left handcuffed to a railing in a tunnel from the city jail to the courthouse. The inmates took two of the guards’ uniforms and escaped wearing them, said Correction Commissioner Donal Campbell.

Campbell said one of the inmates told the guards: “We don’t ever want to hurt anyone. Just get out of our way.”

The inmates were captured a few blocks away crouching in bushes and did not resist arrest, police said. Their T-shirts bore the words “maximum security.”

The prisoners were identified as Lyle Van Ulzen, 35, and Billy Coffelt, 47. Van Ulzen was serving 65 years for two counts of second-degree murder and assault; Coffelt was serving a life sentence for armed robbery, assault with intent to murder and a 1992 escape.

They were headed to a court appearance for a 1998 escape from the Riverbend maximum security prison in Nashville, officials said.

Van Ulzen pulled a knife on one guard and ordered him to remove their waist chains, leg irons and handcuffs while demanding that the other two guards stay back, police spokesman Don Aaron said. Coffelt also had a knife, authorities said. The guards were not carrying weapons.

As the inmates fled the tunnel, they met a fourth guard at the door leading to the courthouse and restrained him, Aaron said.

The inmates took that guard’s keys, but they dropped the handcuff key. The guard freed himself and the others.

Authorities said they think the pair walked out of the main courthouse doors.