make WWAY your homepage  Become a fan on facebook  Follow us on twitter  Receive RSS Newsfeeds  MEMBERS: Register | Login

Law enforcement officers searching for escaped inmate

Submitted by WWAY on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 10:17am.READ MORE:
Funderburk, Archie.jpg
Whiteville City Schools went into lockdown mode about 10:30am Thursday. A school spokesperson told NewsChannel 3 the district was notified by law enforcement that a prisoner escaped from work release. All five Whiteville public schools were quickly locked down. Students were supposed to be released at Noon for a staff development day. Instead, they stayed put at school until about 4:00pm, when school buses began bringing them home. The Department of Correction is now searching for inmate Archie Funderburk. Funderburk, 39, was assigned to a Department of Correction medium custody road squad that was working along N.C. 701 near Whiteville. Funderburk ran from the crew around 10 am Thursday, and officers fired several times at him. It is unknown at this time if he was hit. He was serving a one year sentence for larceny after breaking and entering. He was due for release in February. Funderburk was convicted in Union County and admitted to prison on July 15, 2008. He is a medium-custody inmate assigned to Columbus Correctional Institution in Whiteville. Anyone with information on Funderburk’s whereabouts is asked to contact local law enforcement or Columbus Correctional Institution at (910) 642-3285.

Disclaimer: Comments posted on this, or any story are opinions of those people posting them, and not the views or opinions of WWAY NewsChannel 3, its management or employees. You can view our comment policy here.

»

Use your head PEOPLE

Submitted by Disgusted with people (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 8:29am.
With someone crazy enough to escape with so little time left, is it outrageous to think of scenerios in this situation? ...carjacking...car chase...drive far enough to (oh, there is a school)...run inside...convenient hostages...it could happen, it has happened. If it were to happen in this situation, this string of commentaries would look very different. If the police had not called for a lockdown and someone's child or teacher who protected that child got hurt because they had not thought of the possible scenerios. Those of you who treated the staff poorly because you were inconvenienced, shame on you, they were only protecting your children from possible harm and in all likelihood, could have been risking their lives to do it. These lockdowns were created in response to some of the most horrible crimes that have taken place in the last decade or so. I, for one, would rather my child have wet pants than a hole in their heads. Thank you law enforcement (and schools)for doing your jobs.
»

Calm down, ladies

Submitted by Commonsensenotc... on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 6:17am.
I want nothing to happen to your little darlings either. Having some experience in this area, I am merely suggesting that you have to play the odds when the odds are stacked in your favor, and not playing the odds creates a logistical mess. For example, we could order a full strip-search of every airline passenger and be 100% sure that no one was carrying anything onto a plane, but it would paralyze airline travel. We have to make a rational choice of what level of searching is effective and practical. In the case at hand, I am merely suggesting that locking down all four schools was a bit of overkill. In fact, my money says that it was done less for school safety than to keep the streets clear and make searching easier for law enforcement. (Don't think I'm condemning that angle, just asking if it was worth all the mess.) Since his motivation was flight, the first place he'll go is a home to find clothing and possibly a weapon. I'd be advising homeowners to be watchful, and lock their doors. Right now he wants to AVOID people, not recreate the school bus scene from Dirty Harry. Meanwhile, kids in school were near wetting their pants because they couldn't go to the rest room?
»

WHY MUST THERE ALWAYS BE ONE

Submitted by MOMOF4 (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:34pm.
WHY MUST THERE ALWAYS BE ONE TO COMPLAIN AND CRITICIZE? I AM GRATEFUL THAT SOMEONE WILLING TO "PLAY THE ODDS" ISN'T IN A POSITION TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS WITH MY CHILDRENS SAFETY. IN CASE YOU DIDN'T SEE ALL THE LINES AT THE SCHOOLS ALL DAY LONG, IT INCREASED TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS, NOT SLOWED IT. I THINK THAT THE COMPARISION BETWEEN A SCHOOL LOCKDOWN AND STRIP SEARCHING EVERY PASSENGER TO EVER BOARD A PLANE IS A BIT SILLY. THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, NOT AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE. THE SCHOOL AND POLICE SHOULD BE COMMENDED NOT CRITICIZED. AS FAR AS WHAT THE ESCAPEE IS THINKING, I DON'T THINK ANYONE REALLY KNOWS AT THIS POINT. NO MATTER HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE YOU MAY HAVE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HE IS DESPERATE ENOUGH TO TRY ANYTHING. I AM SURE THAT THE AUTHORITIES ARE WATCHING HIS HOME AND IF THAT IS WHERE HE WENT, HE WOULD BE IN CUSTODY BY NOW. CAN WE ALL BE A LITTLE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PEOPLE TRYING TO CATCH THIS PERSON AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND A LITTLE LESS CONDEMNING?
»

Excuse me, but...

Submitted by Commonsensenotc... on Sat, 10/18/2008 - 11:13am.
...I spent most of my life working in one aspect of law enforcement or another. Nowhere was I "criticizing" or not supporting law enforcement, simply questioning, and I earned the right to do that. If you have ever read any of my posts you would know that I fully support law enforcement. Another far calmer poster raised one issue that I had not considered, and I realize now why they secured all the schools: To keep the kids that reside within the search area out. You might have accomplished the same thing if you did not type the equivalent of hysterical screaming. I have an extra keyboard if your Caps Lock key is broken...
»

SCHOOL LOCKDOWN

Submitted by MOMOF4 (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 8:44pm.
YOU MAY THINK THAT THE LOCK DOWN WASN'T NECESSARY, BUT IF YOUR CHILD WAS WALKING ON CAMPUS AND THE ESCAPEE GRABBED HIM/HER AND USED THEM AS A HOSTAGE, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL THEN? I AM A MOTHER OF 4 AND HAVE STUDENTS IN 3 WHITEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS. I ADMIT THAT IT WAS A HASSLE TO GO AND PICK ALL OF THEM UP, LINES WERE LONG AND IT WAS VERY HECTIC. HOWEVER, I WOULD GO THRU THAT AND ALOT MORE TO KNOW THAT MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE AT HOME TONIGHT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT IF PARENTS HAD UNDERSTOOD THAT THE FACULTY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE ONLY TRYING TO KEEP ALL OF THE CHILDREN SAFE IT WOULD HAVE GONE A LOT SMOOTHER. THERE WERE SEVERAL MOTHERS THAT I WITNESSED THAT WERE HORRIBLE TO STAFF. AND THOSE SAME MOTHERS WOULD BE THE FIRST TO BLAME THE SCHOOL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG.
»

Escaped Convict

Submitted by Lolth (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 8:38pm.
I would like to say that I am delighted that the schools locked down to provide safety to our children. I have 2 children in the Whiteville City Schools, one in primary and the other in middle school. In response to someones comment on why the lockdown....well anyone in my opinion that is stupid enough to go to prison and then to escape with their parole hearing coming up in 4 months is likely to do anything, including possibly going to our schools to take our children hostage. I commend Whiteville City Schools and the entire law enforcement here for protecting my children and the residents. It was an inconvenience to leave work to pick up my children in long lines of parents, but well worth their safety. Also, thank you to all of the guards I saw on my way home in my neighborhood keeping us safe, as I live just north of 74/76. Sincerely, A Thankful Parent
»

i am a student at one of the

Submitted by heyyyyy (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 4:15pm.
i am a student at one of the schools that got locked down, its been crazy out my way and i hope they find him but its kinda stupid to escape when he didnt have much longer to go until he got released
»

He didn't get where he was...

Submitted by Truth Hurtz (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 5:21pm.
...by being smart.
»

Why?

Submitted by Commonsensenotc... on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 3:42pm.
Did we think he was running away to get an education? We're getting a bit silly about these lockdowns.
»

Now, why would a school lock

Submitted by Dark Knight One One (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 1:46am.
Now, why would a school lock down be considered silly when there's a excape immate in area????? Apparently you have no idea how far some people will try and go to keep from being locked up, or locked back up....The police did exactly they needed to do in locking the schools down. Better safe then sorry.
»

Escaped Convict and School Lockdown Reply to Why?

Submitted by Randy Shaver (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 5:53pm.
Whenever law enforcement advises me that it is in the best interests of students' safety to go into a lockdown, that is exactly what we are going to do.
»

I fully understand your position

Submitted by Commonsensenotc... on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 5:36am.
But perhaps they were a bit over-reactive in advising you to lock down all schools? What was the distance from the incident to the furthest school locked down? Was this man The Flash, who could run at supersonic speeds? Perhaps only the nearest school would have been adequate? The original concept of a school lockdown has grown far beyond its original intention. When there is a danger in the immediate proximity to the school, fine. In the case at hand, I believe that it was overkill.
»

The kids that go to these

Submitted by Columbus County Resident (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 1:21pm.
The kids that go to these schools live not only beside the schools but also into the areas involved in the search. Would you want your child going home, sometimes to an empty home because their parents are at work to walk into their home only to find an escaped inmate hiding inside. I'm sure everyone was doing what they thought was in the best interest of the children.
»

Excellent point and you win!

Submitted by Commonsensenotc... on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 4:22pm.
YOU have mentioned one rational point I did not think of and have convinced me, because trying to segregate those kids and keep only them out of the search area would have been difficult if not imposssible.
»

Escaped convict

Submitted by Guest5050 (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 1:41pm.
Those prison guards should carry rifles instead of shotguns and they could've dropped that lowlife in his tracks.
»

What happened to Tennessee v. Gardner?

Submitted by Truth Hurtz (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 5:32pm.
What's the justification for using deadly force against a fleeing criminal who poses a limited threat to the public? Now mind you, I don't personally care if they shoot them ALL, but I remember having a major shift in policy come down about twenty years ago, telling us that we could only shoot at fleeing rapists, murderers, armed robbers, etc, and could NOT use deadly force against auto theft, b&e, simple larceny, etc. Of course, in all cases we were supposed to run them down if we could... ...but what's with these thirty-inch Wingmasters? Are they going duck hunting? I'm sure the COs would do far better (and be more comfortable) with slug-barrelled shotguns, rifle sights, and an alternate load of slugs and #4 buckshot.
»

look at his record

Submitted by Shazam (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:55am.
look at his convictions (rape, kidnapping, escape) He shouldnt have been anywhere close to the public until his time was finished. Felon's are a deemed a threat to society when they are fleeing. Im fairly sure they use shotguns b/c is a mass casualty weapon. They are normally outnumbered and the shotgun they use is considered one of the top 10 shotguns of all time according to Field and Stream (if its still the Remington 870). Im glad they locked the schools down better safe than sorry.
»

Tenn. vs. Garner

Submitted by Guest5050 (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 7:11am.
Under NC General Statutes, Deadly force is authorized by a corrections officer to stop a 'CONVICTED' felon from escaping custody. That is only for corrections officers and the key words are that he is a convicted felon escaping custody. That's why they are allowed to shoot convicts as they are climbing over the fence in prison. The Tenn. vs. Garner ruling found that the old "fleeing Felon" laws were excessive force. The Police were allowed to shoot someone that was fleeing the scene after committing a felony, any felony. That included any non-violent felony like the one that the case was all about where a young teen was running after breaking into an empty house. Those laws no longer exist.
»

Thanks for the explanation

Submitted by Truth Hurtz (not verified) on Sat, 10/18/2008 - 2:29pm.
That makes perfect sense. COs aren't dealing with suspects, they're dealing with convicts, and they can't differentiate whether the escapee is a violent felon or run of the mill felon. I believe that if police could still operate under the old rules however, the whole issue of crime would be far less of a problem.
»

NC law states that officals

Submitted by Dark Knight One One (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 1:33am.
NC law states that officals can shoot "convicted" fleeing felons. Since he was in prison as a "convicted" felon they had every right to shoot him. And there is such a thing as a "well placed shot" with a shotgun. Using a slug you can get a "well placed shot" with a 12ga at 50 yards if your a good shot, it's all about the training.
»

N.C.G.S. 15A 401 (d)(2)(c) - Use of Deadly Force in N.C.

Submitted by jed99 (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 10:55pm.
"Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985)[1], was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that under the Fourth Amendment, when a law enforcement officer is pursuing a fleeing suspect, they may use deadly force only to prevent escape if the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others." ___________________________________________ North Carolina General Statue 15A 401(d)(2)(c) To prevent the escape of a person from custody imposed upon him as a result of conviction for a felony.(PRISONER)
»

Escaped Convict

Submitted by Claybreaker (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 3:52pm.
The Dept. of Corrections do have rifles. Ruger Mini-14 to be exact. The Mini-14 is a 5.56 (or 223) caliber rifle. Due to it's velocity and range, it is not a good choice of carry for road crew officers that may have to fire their weapon in a populated area. Rest assured that Correctional Officers are very well trained in the use of firearms. I will say that a well placed shot with a 12 guage shotgun firing 00 buckshot is far better than a single projectile within it's range of 50 to 60 yards.
»

50-60 yards?

Submitted by Guest1313 (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 5:30pm.
There is no such thing as a "well placed shot" with a shotgun using buckshot at 50-60 yards. Anything more than 40 yards is useless and that is too far. A rifle is the way to go. That's why so many Law Enforcement agencies are going to .223 rifles for close-in and at longer ranges. Precision shots are the safest way to go. Shotguns are for only close-in use.
»

They do have slugs and they

Submitted by WilmMan on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:55am.
They do have slugs and they are very accurate at 50yds and you can have a precise shot at that same distance
»

Slugs

Submitted by NC CO (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 6:14pm.
Sorry but the NC DOC uses a Remengington 870 Shotgun with 00 buckshot. this limits the risk of the projectile penetrating into a nearby car, or dwelling, and increasing public safety as The safety of the public is our primary concern. We DO NOT use slugs on our road crews and are trained to use our shotguns at a longer distance.
»

slugs?

Submitted by Guest1313 (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 12:33pm.
Yes, they can be somewhat accurate at 50 yards. That is, if the target is standing still and not running. You are trying to justify the use of a close range weapon at longer ranges. Slugs are reasonably accurate under certain conditions, but will never replace a rifle. No offense, but if you were a cop, you would know what I mean.
»

Escaped convict

Submitted by Guest5050 (not verified) on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 4:32pm.
I am aware of the Mini14's that prison guards have and that is why they should have them with road crews. Shotguns are very limited in what they can do due to their limited range. If prison guards were as well trained as Law Enforcement Officers, then the velocity and range would be an asset, not a liability. Police use the .223 rifles as entry weapons and on the street in armed encounters these days. Training makes the difference and if properly trained with their rifles, prison guards could be just as competent too.
»

It all comes down to the

Submitted by Guest999 (not verified) on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 4:35pm.
It all comes down to the fact that if you have a pulse then you can get a job with the doc. The state needs to set limits to who they hire and make sure there able to do the job. If you also look at other states equipment and the fact even though some of the training has improved. They need more training,limits to who they hire,and more staff.If Joe Public honestly knew how dangerous it is to walk threw those doors everyday,for the little money they do make,everyone would be saying we need more. Everyone wants the criminals off the streets. But can everyone say they would do that job? Do you think you could take that life on the fence? Do you think you could work 48 hours straight posted in the woods looking for a convicted felon? Could you be the spouse of any puplic service worker, weather it be law enforcement,fire department,correction,and hope they make it home ALIVE!
»

DOC WORKERS

Submitted by WIFE OF A CO (not verified) on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 11:15am.
Ya'll want to talk about how they do their jobs, the kind of training they have, the pay they make. Just remember while you are at home sound asleep in your beds, the family of CO'S are the ones up pacing the floors wondering if they will be at work for their shift, oris somthing gonna happen to where they can't come home for days or at all. They wrok long shifts and deal with the criminals, if you think you can do better try to get a job at your local prison. If you really want to know what goes on in one take a tour. These men and women sacrific day and night so you don't have to. Have some RESPECT.........
»