NEWS RELEASE
June 6, 2022
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman stated that his Emergency Communications Center
was contacted by the Star Community Justice Center (Franklin Furnace, Ohio), June 4th , 2022 at
8:06 p.m. in reference to “2-3 male inmates escaping. The caller advised that the inmates
escaped possibly by climbing the fence. The caller asked the dispatcher to notify the Ohio State
Highway Patrol, who is the responsible law enforcement agency.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that deputies responded to the area, along with the Ohio State
Highway Patrol, to begin the search for the escaped inmates. Deputies contacted a person at the
Star Community Justice Center, who provided the names of the escapees and a description of a
female that was near the fence line just prior to the escape.
Upon the initial arrival of deputies, deputies stopped and spoke with a female asking if she had
witnessed anything to do with the escape. She stated no. This female matched the description
given by the employee of Star Community Justice Center. Deputies quickly relocated and
detained her.
The female, Allie Elizabeth Angelo, came to the Star Community Justice Center with her ex-
husband, Matthew Daniel Sladen, to assist her fiancée, Jeffrey Randle Fields, escape. Deputies
obtained the location of Sladen, which was Walmart in Waverly, Ohio. Deputies spoke with
Sladen and asked him to remain there. The Waverly Police Department was contacted and they
responded and located Mr. Sladen, detaining him until the arrival of Scioto County Deputies.
While deputies were speaking with Sladen, Fields was located and arrested by the Deputy
Webster on Junior Furnace Road. The Ohio State Highway Patrol located and detained escapee
Clifford Tyler Morris, who was located on Junior Furnace Road as well.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that on the following morning deputies were dispatched to the
Norfolk and Southern property off of Hayport Rd in reference to two suspicious persons. Upon
the arrival of deputies, they observed the two individuals walking towards U.S. 52. The suspects
ran from deputies and a request was made to the Portsmouth Police Department for their K-9 unit
to track the suspects.
The Portsmouth P.D. responded, as well as the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The K-9 began
tracking the suspects and one of the suspects, Aaron Brigeman, emerged from the wood line and
began walking on the railroad property, where he was detained and arrested by Deputy Tackett-
Dye. Deputy Tackett-Dye asked Bridgeman where the other escapee was. The deputy was
advised to look at the end of Selby Ave. near a mobile home. Escapee Walker Pence was located
in the woods next to the mobile home.
Presently, the only inmate that is still on the run is Thomas Charles Comberger, age 46, of 294 S.
Walnut St., Wilmington, Ohio. He is described as 6’4” and 245lbs with brown hair and blue
eyes. Sheriff Thoroughman asks the public to call 9-1-1 if Comberger is spotted.
Escapees arrested were Jeffrey Randle Fields, age 37, of 321 Prange Dr. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio,
Clifford Tyler Morris, age 33, of 623 Polk Sabina, Ohio, Aaron Brigeman, age 43, of 15 Ridge
Ave. Dayton, Ohio, and Walker N. Pence, age 22, of 26080 Poplar Alley New Holland, Ohio.
Arrested also, Allie Angelo, age 32, of 450 Champlain St. Akron, Ohio. Angelo was arrested for
Aiding Escape, a felony of the 4th degree. Matthew Sladen, age 31, of 459 Champlain St., Arkon,
Ohio. Sladen was arrested for Aiding Escape, a felony of the 4th degree and Possession of
Criminal Tools, a felony of the 3rd degree.
Sheriff Thoroughman has been advised that all of the escapees from the Star Community Justice
Center were low level, non-violent, drug offenders. The Star Community Justice Center is a
community based correctional facility intended to promote and reduce prison commitments
through treatment and education.
Sheriff Thoroughman states that the investigation of the escape will be conducted by the Ohio
State Highway Patrol, since it is on State property.
Sheriff Thoroughman would like to thank the Portsmouth Police Department, Scioto County
Prosecutor Shane Tieman, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Waverly Police Department
for their assistance.
All cases will be presented to a Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date. The escapees will face
charges through their home counties as well.
It's crazy to me that someone would escape from a facility that they have less than 6 months to serve!! They typically sentence ppl to 3-6 months in star and then your level determines whether you stay 90 days or 6 months but that is the max length of the program. o now they're getting hit with more felonies and more time and not at star either! Way to go guys, good way to get home faster lol