Two weeks in US pursuit of escaped 'Spiderman'

A two-week manhunt involving hundreds of police officers in Pennsylvania ended with the capture of an escaped murderer.

Danelo Cavalcante, a 34-year-old Brazilian citizen, was captured 14 days after escaping from a prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was serving a life sentence without parole for murder in the US.

The capture of Cavalcante without a shot being fired, with no casualties to police or civilians, was a happy ending to a dramatic manhunt that rocked the Philadelphia suburbs and captured the attention of the entire United States.

Danelo Cavalcante was arrested on September 13 in Pennsylvania. Photo: AFP

On August 31, Cavalcante, while being released from his cell for exercise, sneaked into a hidden corner and climbed the wall like a "spider-man" to escape the area with surveillance cameras in just about 10 seconds. He continued running across the roof, over the barbed wire fence and jumped out.

Howard Holland, the prison’s administrator, said officials realized Cavalcante was missing about an hour after he escaped. They locked down the facility, reinforced security, and took a roll call. Another inmate escaped in a similar fashion in May but was discovered.

The manhunt began. Cavalcante was caught on surveillance camera on September 4 in Longwood Gardens, about 3 miles from the prison, south of the area authorities were searching. Cavalcante was seen carrying a backpack and a duffel bag.

Cacalvante search areas. Graphic: Washington Post

Officials moved the search area south. Schools in the area closed for two days as a precaution.

Cavalcante stole a keyed truck from a dairy farm before stopping by a former co-worker’s home on September 10. Door cameras showed he had shaved. Cavalcante was unable to see his former co-worker because he was not home.

Authorities later found the truck abandoned in a field in East Nantmeal, a rural area in northern Chester County. The search intensified after Cavalcante stole a rifle from a garage on the evening of September 11, more than 20 miles from the Chester County Jail.

Early on September 12, state police said they were pursuing the escaped prisoner in the town of South Coventry, advising residents to "close doors, windows, secure vehicles, stay indoors" because the escapee was armed.

Authorities said they had difficulty finding Cavalcante because he was hiding in a rural area with dense vegetation that made it difficult to see more than a few meters from one another. Temperatures in the area were so hot that a sniffer dog had to be treated.

"The weather, the terrain and a lot of obstacles were factors that prevented us from being able to apprehend him faster," said Chester County Prosecutor Deb Ryan.

About 500 law enforcement officers, including members of the Pennsylvania State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and the Marshals Service, set up a perimeter in the wooded area.

The breakthrough came at 1am on September 13 when a plane with heat-seeking equipment detected traces of human remains. However, a storm rolled in, preventing them from taking immediate action. A tactical team of 20-25 people formed a perimeter around the area and waited for the storm to pass.

Cavalcante was subdued by police dogs and police on September 13. Photo: TMZ

By 8 a.m., the tactical team began closing in. Cavalcante was asleep when police found him, propped up on the rifle he had stolen. "They moved very quietly, catching the criminal off guard," said Pennsylvania State Police Officer George Bivens.

Cavalcante tried to escape by crawling through the bushes with a rifle in his hand. The team released Yoda, a 4-year-old police dog, to give chase. The dog lunged, wrestled with the criminal, and subdued him. Yoda bit Cavalcante on the forehead and thigh, and the police successfully subdued the suspect. Yoda played a key role in preventing Cavalcante from using the rifle.

“It all happened so fast,” Bivens said.

"I think he was in a lot of pain," said Robert Clark, a U.S. Marshal. Clark said Cavalcante ate stolen watermelon from the farm and drank spring water to sustain himself during his escape.

Escaped prisoner 'Spider-Man' captured

Escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante is escorted by security forces on September 13. Video : Fox News

On September 13, Cavalcante was charged with another count of escape and was taken to Montgomery County Jail to continue serving his life sentence.

"Our nightmare is finally over. The good guys have won," Ryan declared.

Locals breathed a sigh of relief at the good news. "It's been a crazy two weeks. We're all going to sleep a lot better tonight," said Dianna DeStefano, 42.

Hong Hanh (According to Washington Post/WHYY )

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