Law enforcement personnel search for two escapees

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Two Honduran nationals escaped from the Pine Prairie Correctional Facility at approximately 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
The two individuals are Kelman Batiz and Wilmer Ramirez, 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.
According to Major Jeremy Mitchell with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff Office, both individuals are “in the process of being deported after they finish their time” in Pine Prairie.
Major Mitchell, as well as Evangeline Parish Warden Josh Fontenot and Pine Prairie Assistant Chief of Police Rick Ordner, stated the following law enforcement agencies are assisting 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.
The public is urged to contact the sheriff office at 337-363-2161 if they need further information or if they spot the two escapees. “If anybody sees them or sees anybody who looks like them,” said Major Mitchell, “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.”
Both Batiz and Ramirez are in prison for nonviolent offenses, but law enforcement officers on site want to let the public know “we still want to assume they are armed and dangerous because they escaped.