Razor wire foils OCCC escape attempt

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A man awaiting trial on a burglary charge tried to escape from the O'ahu Community Correctional Center yesterday, but got snagged in razor wire.

Christopher Perkins, 36, was in the Kalihi facility's recreation yard with other inmates when he bolted for a fence at about 11:35 a.m., said Public Safety Deputy Director Marian Tsuji. The recreation yard is on the 'ewa side of the complex on Dillingham Boulevard.

As Perkins attempted to scale the 16- to 20-foot fence, he became tangled in the razor wire, Tsuji said. Prison guards ordered him to climb down and he complied.

"He didn't have much of a choice at that point," Tsuji said. "He was pretty cut up."

Perkins was taken to the Queen's Medical Center for treatment of his cuts. His condition was not available last night.

Yesterday's escape attempt was the first since March 21, when inmates Eric Vance and Kerbert Silva escaped by climbing roofs and scaling a fence. The two were captured within hours.

In January, Silva escaped by scaling two razor-wire fences.

After those escapes, prison officials increased patrols and reinforced the razor wire.

Tsuji said Perkins' relatives reported his being despondent over the recent death of his mother. Perkins has been at OCCC since May, according to Tsuji.