Police in Thunder Bay, Ontario stop search but continue watching for escaped inmate

Philip Robert Crosby,an inmate at the Thunder Bay District Jail, escaped from the facilityaround 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, prompting a lockdown at nearby schools, police in the Ontario city said.

A search of the immediate area with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police did not locate Crosby, and the search has been terminated. However, police remain vigilant in looking for the man, through extra patrols in the area, said Cst. Julie Tilbury.

Police are asking the public's assistance in locating the man, but Tilbury said people should refrain from approaching him.

"Just call 911 immediately if you have any information to offer, or if you see this male and we will have officers attend immediately and deal with the situation," she said.

'Hold and secure' at local schools lifted

The Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board and Lakehead Public Schoolsplaced a total of nine schools in a "hold and secure" position, but both boards lifted the order shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. However, the boards wereencouraging parents to pick up children who usually walk home.

Separate schools in thelockdown included St. Ignatius High School, Bishop Gallagher Senior Elementary, St. Paul School, St. Margaret School and St. Bernard School.

LakeheadPublic Schools had also placed three elementary schools,ClaudeE.GartonPublic School,St. James Public School andVance Chapman Public School, as well asSuperior Collegiate and Vocational Institute in 'hold and secure'.

An advisory on the public school board's Facebook page described 'hold and secure' as "a response to a threat and/or incident in the general vicinity of a school, but not on or very near to school property. School life continues as normal inside the school; however, as a precautionary measure, outer doors are locked and no one enters or leaves the building."

According to police, the 48-year-oldCrosbyescaped through a service entry as deliveries were being made.

Police saidCrosbywas in custody for driving offences, resisting arrest offences and breach of court orders.

He was last seen wearing a whitet-shirt,blue boxer shorts and socks and was headed southwest toward the Dawson Court property, police said.

Anyone who sees the male is asked to call 911 immediately.