Prisoner awaits formal charges after brief escape

Contact: Chris Gautz, Public Information Officer (517) 403-4403

Prisoner awaits formal charges after brief escape

The prisoner who briefly escaped from the Newberry Correctional Facility Tuesday has been transferred to a
higher security prison where he will await formal charges related to the escape.
Security systems at the facility made staff aware at 2:09 a.m. that the prisoner, Alize Montague, had begun to
scale the fences and staff responded immediately. An MDOC perimeter security vehicle already in the area while
making rounds also gave chase. The facility immediately contacted local authorities.
Troopers from the Michigan State Police Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace posts, as well as officials from the United
States Border Patrol and Chippewa County Sheriff Department began searching the area.
Montague was arrested by the Michigan State Police outside a hotel, located about a mile from the prison. A clerk
at the hotel called 911, which led authorities to that location. Montague was back in MDOC custody by 3:30 a.m.
After his arrest, Montague was treated at a local hospital for a series of injuries sustained during the escape.
The Newberry Correctional Facility is a level I security facility, located in the Upper Peninsula in Luce County.
Montague, 19, was serving a five to 10-year sentence out of Monroe County. He was incarcerated in January.
“We are thankful this incident ended quickly and without injury to the public,” MDOC Director Heidi Washington
said. “We appreciate the outstanding efforts of the Michigan State Police, local authorities and our MDOC staff
who assisted us in capturing this prisoner.”