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Tim Nelson and Jon Collins
New Richmond, Wis.

3 inmates escape from western Wisconsin prison

Kyle Peterson, Andre Vance and Jesse Fairley
Kyle Peterson, Andre Vance and Jesse Fairley walked away from a state corrections boot camp in New Richmond, Wis., on May 7, 2015.
Courtesy St. Croix County

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Updated 9:53 a.m. | Posted 8:45 a.m.

Three inmates escaped from a correctional facility in western Wisconsin Wednesday night, prompting the school district to cancel classes on Thursday.

The three inmates escaped at about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday from St. Croix Correctional Center in New Richmond, said Mark Samelstad, the city's police chief.

Police are searching for Jesse Jamal Fairley, 26; Andre Lee Vance, 21; and Kyle John Peterson, 19.

"The inmates were last seen wearing long underwear tops and bottoms covered with gray shorts and running shoes," Samelstad said in a statement.

The initial search for the men included K9 teams, two aircraft and police officers and firefighters from across the area.

A silver 2015 Hyundai Sonata was also reported stolen about three miles north of New Richmond, although Samelstad said it may not be connected to the escape.

New Richmond Mayor Fred Horne said police have told him the community is not necessarily at risk, but that residents should be aware of their surroundings, lock their doors and report anything suspicious.

Police are asking anyone with information about the escapees to call the St. Croix County Dispatch at (715) 386-4704 or the detectives working the case at (715) 246-6667.

School District of New Richmond Superintendent Jeff Moberg said in a message on the district's website that the school initially delayed classes by two hours to gather more information about the escape, but later decided to cancel all classes for the day.

New Richmond is in western Wisconsin, about 16 miles northeast of Stillwater, Minn.

The St. Croix Correctional Center is a minimum security facility located in the city. It houses the Challenge Incarceration Program, a voluntary rehabilitation program that emphasizes physical activity, manual labor and discipline.

The facility has a daily average of 125 inmates, according to the most recent Wisconsin Department of Corrections annual report.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.