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Posted: Friday, December 7th, 2012 9:18 AM HST

Manhunt continues for two H-C-C-C escapees

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

The manhunt continues today for two inmates who escaped from Hilo’s Hawai`i Community Correctional Center on Wednesday after they assaulted an adult corrections officer, threatened a civilian employee and stole her vehicle. 35-year old Jarvis Naoki Higa was awaiting trial for attempted murder while 31-year old Ryan James Jeffries-Hamar was serving time for a parole violation and facing trial on an escape charge. Captain Robert Wagner told KPUA News that police have set up two separate task forces to search for the fugitives. “We do have twelve officers working on the Hilo side trying to locate these individuals and following up on all leads relative to their whereabouts,” Wagner said. “And in Kona, they have a task force of eight people following all leads and tracing all information relative to these escapees.” Police say the two men are looking for quick cash. On Thursday, they warned banks and other financial institutions to be on heightened alert. “We received information we deemed credible that these individuals may be robbing a bank,” Wagner said. “So we felt it was necessary to alert banks and credit unions that this information came out and it may be credible enough for us to put them on alert that this may be happening.” Wagner says both men are considered dangerous. If you see either of them, you should not approach them, but call 9-1-1.