Women jump Geiger fences; one still at large

Two women jumped three fences at Geiger Corrections Center and escaped the minimum- and medium-security jail west of Spokane.

One of the inmates, Jaymie C. Fowler, 21, remained at large Wednesday night.

She got over the 8-foot fences with barbed wire about 6 p.m., said Leon Long, Geiger’s director. Investigators believe that the two women planned the escape together and that Fowler likely got a ride from the area.

“We haven’t had a problem with the women up to now. I guess they found a weak spot that we hadn’t gotten to,” Long said.

The other escapee, Amanda George, 24, was seen by authorities soon after she jumped the fence, about 6:15 p.m., Long said. George suffered minor cuts in her escape and was treated at Geiger. Fowler was noticed missing only after George was found and an inmate count was done.

The two women are the second and third inmates to escape Geiger custody in less than a week. An inmate briefly escaped Friday after he was taken to see his attorney. He was not wearing the waist chains and handcuffs required under Geiger policy. Long said a staff member was reprimanded for not passing on the new policy to other staff.

In the past year, about a half-dozen other Geiger inmates have escaped by going under or over fences, or from transport vehicles.

About 600 inmates are housed at Geiger, which is run by Spokane County. On Wednesday, they included about 100 women, who have been kept separated from the men since March.

Long said some security measures have not been fully implemented at the women’s campus. Cameras will soon be installed and razor wire will be placed around the perimeter, he said.

Fowler was serving time for assault. George faces charges of theft, forgery and identity theft. Fowler is white, 5-foot-4 and 130 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She may have been wearing a gray sweat suit. Spokane County Undersheriff Dave Wiyrick said the two women likely will face escape charges.