TDCJ: Officer Had Relationship With Comeaux

HOUSTON - A Huntsville correctional officer was recommended for termination Wednesday on accusations she established a relationship with the sex offender who escaped during a prison transfer last month.

Cynthia M. Allen, a 45-year-old Correctional Officer III, was recommended for firing after she allegedly admitted that she had placed several phone calls to the ex-wife of Arcade Comeaux Jr. at his request, according to a statement issued by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Officials determined was in violation of the department's "Establishing a Relationship with an Offender" rule.

Officials are not releasing the details of the conversation, citing an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Office of Inspector General, according to the statement.

Allen has been employed by the justice department for 10 months, according to the statement.

Last week, officials fired Huntsville corrections officer Michael Price Thursday because he didn't adequately search Comeaux and recommended dismissing Lt. Monte S. Henson "for failure to follow policy and procedures."

On Friday, both of his transportation officers, Lance Waldo and Matthew Smith, also issued a retirement notice effective immediately instead of facing disciplinary action, according to the statement.

Comeaux Jr. was wheelchair-bound during his Nov. 30 transfer from a Huntsville prison to another in Beaumont.

Comeaux pulled out a gun and ordered two guards with him to drive to Baytown. Comeaux then took the officers' weapons and handcuffed them together in the back of the vehicle before fleeing on foot.

He was caught one week later after a driver spotted him sleeping on a school bus and called police. Comeaux ran from the bus, but Houston police were able to locate him in a nearby crane business.