Honduran nationals are captured after escaping from Pine Prairie

Two Honduran nationals escaped from the GEO Facility in Pine Prairie at approximately 4 a.m. Sunday morning. They were both then captured at approximately 9 a.m. at a convenience store in Oakdale.
Specific details of how the pair escaped and how they got to Oakdale are still under investigation. The prison was contacted by the Ville Platte Gazette and could not discuss any of the details.
The two individuals are Kelman Bejarano-Batiz and Wilmer Alexander Ramirez-Espana, both from the greater Baton Rouge area. Batiz was convicted on April 4, 2019, after being charged with DUI; Ramirez was in prison for minor traffic charges out of Ascension Parish.
Both Batiz and Ramirez are in prison for nonviolent offenses, but law enforcement officers on site Sunday morning wanted to let the public know “we still want to assume they are armed and dangerous because they escaped.”
The public Sunday morning was urged to contact the sheriff office if they needed further information or if they spotted the two escapees. “If anybody sees them or sees anybody who looks like them,” said Major Jeremy Mitchell with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff Office, “do not try to apprehend them or approach them. Contact local authorities immediately.”
He continued, “We ask the public to please lock all their vehicles and homes. If they see anything suspicious, call and we’ll do a search of the residence.”
Once they were located in Oakdale, Batiz and Ramirez along with a third individual, Moises Isai Montoya, were captured. According to the Oakdale Police Department, Montoya was on scene to pick up the two escapees.
During the process, a struggle took place and Batiz was struck in leg by an Evangeline Parish Sheriff unit.
Trooper Thomas Gossen with Louisiana State Police Troop I confirmed the incident and stated one sheriff unit arrived on scene of the convenience store before calling another unit for backup. The first deputy on the scene had Batiz on the ground, and the second unit, once it arrived on scene, struck him as it was going around the first unit.
Troop I did confirm the injuries were minor and said the matter is still under investigation by state police.
Oakdale Police said Batiz was transported to a local hospital before being transported back to the prison in Pine Prairie. Ramirez was booked into the Oakdale jail before being transferred back to GEO, and Montoya was booked into the city jail for assisting escape.
Upon their capture in Oakdale, both escapees were returned to the custody of GEO and now face a charge of simple escape and other possible charges.
According to Major Mitchell, both individuals who escaped are “in the process of being deported after they finish their time” in Pine Prairie.
Major Mitchell, as well as Evangeline Parish Warden Josh LaFleur and Pine Prairie Assistant Chief of Police Rick Ordner, stated the following law enforcement agencies assisted in the search: Pine Prairie Police Department, Evangeline Parish Sheriff, Allen Parish Tracking Team, La. State Penitentiary, Eunice Police Department, and La. Wildlife and Fisheries.