Daniel Prince
Man caught in downtown resident's backyard
A Union man who escaped from the Union County Detention Center had only around 7 hours of freedom before he was captured and taken back into custody, and his girlfriend was charged with helping him. 28-year-old Ashley Marie Davis is accused of knowing about her boyfriend’s plan to escape from jail and helping him afterward. According to the police report, Captain Scott Coffer was notified at around 2:35 a.m. that 22-year-old Yasin Amari Razil Richardson had escaped from the Union County Detention Center. Coffer responded to the jail and began reviewing footage and speaking with staff. During the investigation, it was learned that Richardson had been in contact with Davis and that she knew he was planning to escape. Investigator Humphries went to her residence on Tillman Street to speak with her. A short time later, it was discovered that Davis was gathering items to give to Richardson to aid in the escape. Coffer arrived at the residence and gave Davis her Miranda warning. She told them that Richardson had come to her residence and taken a cell phone and charger. She allowed them to look at her cell phone, and they saw she had been in contact with Richardson since his escape. Coffer then placed Davis under arrest on charges of accessory before and after the fact of a felony.
At around 9:30 a.m., deputies were notified that Richardson had been spotted on Main Street near the YMCA. Deputies spotted him behind the YMCA and began a foot pursuit. Deputies and K-9 units arrested Richardson in the 300 block of Pine Street. Coffer was given a cell phone and bookbag containing items that Davis had given him to help aid him from being captured by law enforcement.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Union Public Safety Department, the SLED aviation unit, and the K-9 unit for their cooperation in the search for Richardson. Several schools were placed on secure protocol, keeping students inside and visitors out, until Richardson was apprehended.
The house behind which Richardson was arrested belongs to Bill and Rebecca Rochester. WBCU News spoke to Rebecca about what she saw:
(audio below story)
Both Richardson and Davis had been arrested last year in connection with a break-in of a house on West South Street in August. Richardson was charged with first-degree burglary and petty larceny in that case and in one other break-in, as well. Davis was charged with financial transaction card theft and financial transaction card fraud in that case. Richardson had been held without bond in jail since September 7. Bond was set on Richardson’s escape charge at $100,000. Bond was set on Davis’s charges at $25,000, but she has an additional hold placed on her from the Department of Probation, Pardon, and Parole.