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Police catch Greene Co. escapee

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From left are Waylan Hanlan, Clinton Hanlan, Shane Hanlan and Vanessa Hanlan.

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Shane Hanlan

Three brothers on the run from authorities, including one who escaped from Greene County jail two days earlier, were spotted late Tuesday afternoon by a state police helicopter in Dunkard Township and led troopers on a brief chase before police were able to capture the missing inmate.

Waylon Hanlan, 27, who scaled a fence in a successful escape from the jail less than 45 hours earlier, was arrested by police about 4:30 p.m. following the chase on Bald Hill Church Road near the West Virginia state line, Trooper Matt Jardine said.

“It wasn’t much of a chase,” Jardine said.

Hanlan’s brothers, Clinton Hanlan, who is awaiting trial on an unrelated incident, and Shane Hanlan, who is on the Greene County sheriff’s Most-Wanted List, were also in the car with him at the time and tried to elude authorities.

Jardine said after the helicopter crew spotted their car from the air, troopers on the ground cornered the car and both Waylon and Shane ran from the vehicle. Clinton Hanlan then took the car and drove south into West Virginia, where he was arrested by Monongalia County sheriff’s deputies. He is being held in West Virginia while awaiting extradition to Greene County as police prepare to file charges.

Authorities are still searching for Shane Hanlan.

Waylon Hanlan was returned to Greene County jail, where he was arraigned Tuesday night on additional charges of escape and conspiracy. He was being held at the jail on a probation violation before escaping about 8 p.m. Sunday.

Jardine said he is offering few details about the escape or what he was doing while free.

“He isn’t describing much,” Jardine said.

Police are investigating if other family members or friends were involved in the escape conspiracy.

The brothers’ sister, Vanessa Hanlan, 23, of Dilliner, is accused of aiding Waylon following the jail escape by giving him fresh clothes and car keys at her house. She is being held at the jail on charges of conspiracy and hindering apprehension.

Clinton Hanlan, 21, of Greene Township, was awaiting a Jan. 28 trial in Greene County Court on a felony charge of receiving stolen property filed by state police in March, court records show. He had been free on $10,000 bond in that case.

Shane Hanlan, 29, of 311 School Bus Road, Mt. Morris, was on the Greene County sheriff’s Most-Wanted List after failing to show for a pre-sentencing hearing following his February conviction on receiving stolen property and failing to appear in court. His bond was revoked in May.

“They’re brothers. They have a long history of running around Greene County,” Jardine said. “Nothing serious, but they’ve had some run-ins with the police.”

Jardine said state police were assisted in the “joint search effort” by U.S. marshals and Monongalia County sheriff’s deputies. He said they are tracking leads as they continue searching for Shane Hanlan. He did not rule out more charges against other people as the investigation continues.

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