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Source: Prison Worker Planned to Pick Up Escapees; Manhunt for Escaped Murderers Enters Fifth Day; Police Officer in Pool Party Melee Resigns; U.S. Considering 500 More Troops in Iraq. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired June 10, 2015 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I can tell you a little bit more about Joyce Mitchell this morning, Chris. We know that she's worked at this prison here since 2010. She's married. She lives in Dickerson. We also know that she worked in the tailoring shop with these two escapees, which may be how she got to know them.

Apparently, she knew them pretty well, that's why she's being questioned as a possible accomplice in this case. She is somewhat cooperating, we're told by authorities.

[07:00:00] But she certainly hasn't been charged with anything.

But let me talk about that cell phone. Because we know that her cell phone was used to make several calls to people who are connected to one of the escapees, Richard Matt. We don't know when those calls were made. We don't know who they called. And we don't even know if she was aware that her phone was being used.

We also know that she was supposed to pick them up that day but had a change of heart at the last minute and did not pick them up, which may what sent her into a panic attack and landed her at the hospital. Listen to what her son told NBC.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOBEY MITCHELL, SON OF JOYCE MITCHELL: She is not the kind of person that's going to risk her life or other people's lives to let these guys escape from prison. She was, in fact, in the hospital. I don't know the exact details. I just know that she was having severe chest pains, and she was concerned about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: So these guys were apparently waiting for her to pick them up. So now, they are on their own. And one place they could be heading is the Canadian border.

We went to the border yesterday. It's not very far from here at the prison, only about 30 miles. And I can tell you that it is pretty easy to cross. There are a lot of open areas where you don't need a passport or any documentation.

At one point, I had one foot in the U.S. and one foot in Canada, and then I just simply walked across the border in that open area, no questions asked at all. One of the things that they have up there to help is a K-9 unit. So these canines were able to search these cars and know, if anybody who could be up to no good might be in a trunk. They also have video surveillance, as well. So hopefully, this area covered, Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: That illustration of you on the border just captures how easy it is. I hadn't known quite what that landscape looked like until you straddled both countries there. Thanks so much for showing us that.

All right. Meanwhile, police descending on this town near the prison after possible sightings of the fugitives. Look at this amateur video. Police are combing the area looking for any sign of the pair. Look at how many police there are.

CNN's Polo Sandoval with the latest now on the manhunt. Polo, they look almost like shoulder-to-shoulder. Do we know if they've found any clues?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, those images are quite impressive there. Because really, if you think about it, it all started with a phone call early Tuesday morning. An individual that spotted a few suspicious people walking down a lonely road in the middle of the rain that automatically set off a red flag.

So now, investigators automatically launched from here in the town of Dannemora over to Westborough. I can tell you that, at this point, investigators did not find much. They searched fields, searched farms and also some surveillance video from nearby homes and businesses, hoping to find any trace of these two individuals that fled. But at this point, again, that has not provided any results.

You expect police officers and also correctional officers to be back out there today as they continue their search. One thing that's different today, as opposed to yesterday, the weather seems to have cooperated. Yesterday, heavy fog, heavy downpours potentially hampering those efforts.

Today, we're already seeing correctional officers staging, getting ready to head back out again for another day of searching. And that's what investigators want people to do. If they -- we heard that before, Alisyn. If they see something, say something.

So far, authorities have received at least 300 different phone calls, different tips. Authorities promising they will follow up on each and every one of them. So there is a phone number that authorities want to make sure people at least write down, keep in their phone numbers, especially there in and around the area, 800-336-0102. That's the marshal -- the U.S. Marshals line. That agency already putting these two very dangerous individuals among their top 15 most wanted, Chris. Clearly a priority for investigators to track these down before police can try to answer that question that's still pending today. How on earth were they able to escape?

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: And they'll be able to figure that out once they catch them. So we've got the marshals' number there. The easier number is 911.

And remember, what you do is important, what you don't do is important also. Do not approach these two men. They are both killers and never been as desperate as they are right now.

Let's bring in Lenny DePaul, the former commander of the U.S. Marshals Service regional fugitive task force for New York and New Jersey.

Lenny, good to have you here. So the good news is, their plan got screwed up. This woman pulled out, or so she says. Her phone was used, though, to call other people. So what does that give you and where does that still leave you?

LENNY DEPAUL, FORMER COMMANDER, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE REGIONAL TASK FORCE FOR NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY: Well, allegedly, she was involved. I mean, the state troopers have that investigation, and I'm sure they have, hopefully, most of those questions answered.

CUOMO: I'm going with supposedly instead of allegedly. Because allegedly, that means there's no proof. Unless the sources are all bad. She is telling them things about what she was supposed to do. So they do have something.

DEPAUL: Well, let's say she did. Who did she call? I'm sure that those -- those questions are being investigated, if not already satisfied. What else did she do? Did she meet anybody on the outside? Was anything else brought in? Money, a cell phone for them to use when they escaped? So yes, that's huge. I mean, if in fact, she was involved.

CUOMO: You think there have to be others, though? Right? The tools they have, the knowhow they had.

DEPAUL: Certainly sounds like it. I wouldn't rule it out. And I'm sure that investigation. You know, but we're getting into day five now. So we're -- you know, the manhunt certainly will continue. But now we get into a fugitive investigation.

CUOMO: Why? What's the difference?

DEPAUL: A big difference. The manhunt is that initial, you know, manpower. Let's set perimeters up. Let's knock on doors, do roadblocks, car searches, et cetera, et cetera. Take a peripheral look at some of the investigation that's going on back at the command post and who we need to talk to in -- with respect to friends and family and who visited them in jail and that kind of thing.

Now the investigators go to work. You know, let's take a hard look at the puzzle that's being put together and the people involved. They're doing.

CUOMO: How does time work for them and against them, the bad guys?

DEPAUL: Well, at this point, if they are on foot, if, in fact, Ms. Mitchell was involved and was supposed to pick them up, they're -- you know, they're hurting. I mean, it's raining. The weather. They're hungry, I'm sure. Scared. Although these two guys are vicious animals, so I don't know how scared they could be. But you know, timing is everything, especially in a fugitive investigation.

CUOMO: After all they did to get out, the idea of them just walking on the road. To some that would be like, well, how could they be so elaborate on one side, so simple on the other? How do you put it together?

DEPAUL: The possibility, if it was them, they came back out on the street maybe to do a carjacking, try to get picked up. Who know what their mindset is and what's going through. I do know, however, if they are cornered or found and whatnot, what is their mindset? Is it suicide by cop? What are they thinking? And that's important for law enforcement.

CUOMO: That 800 number that we put up, U.S. Marshals Service, please call that number. It doesn't necessarily mean, even though we're focusing on Willsboro at this point, they could be anywhere. So I don't want the public to think that, you know, "Well, I'm in Florida and I see somebody. It's not them, because they're looking for them in New York." So definitely call that number.

CUOMO: How do you guys balance the urgency of saying -- hearing someone saw them in this place with, well, we still have to be open to the fact that they could be anywhere? This tip could not be right.

DEPAUL: Well, everything is prioritized, obviously. I mean, we're -- that tip that came in from the female, 2000 only, certainly, to deploy enough assets to that area is important and critical to satisfy that lead.

CUOMO: Have you heard that they got hit with the dogs?

DEPAUL: There was some talk about that, with the guys that are down range that there was a possible scent. I can't confirm that.

CUOMO: Can't confirm it? And as you look at it going forward, have you -- we have guys on the run all the time, right, unfortunately. But when you look at this in totality right now, how much does this distinguish itself in terms of what we've dealt with in the past?

DEPAUL: You know, again, you look at these two guys and what they're all about and their rap sheet and their record and what they were convicted on and, you know, others that have been running.

We look at them all the same. Until -- I mean, I've gone after simple parole violators there and unfortunately, shootings. So you can't certainly, you know -- these two guys are bad guys. So you want to approach them, you know, as we do all of them, with extreme caution. They're armed and dangerous, possible. If they get their hands on any weapons while they've been out? We don't know. But will certainly approach them very cautiously.

CUOMO: Thank you very much. Appreciate your perspective on this, and we'll lean on you as we learn more going forward -- Alisyn. CAMEROTA: Following that police officer who tackled a teenage girl

and pulled his gun out on a group of teenagers has resigned from the force. A lawyer for Eric Casebolt says the former corporal is in hiding this morning after receiving death threats.

CNN's Alina Machado is live for us from McKinney, Texas. What do we know, Alina?

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alisyn, the officer had been on administrative leave. And he left his position with the police department before the investigation into what happened was even completed. And now some are saying his resignation just simply isn't enough.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHIEF GREG CONLEY, MCKINNEY POLICE: The actions of Casebolt, as seen on the video, are indefensible.

MACHADO (voice-over): Police Officer Corporal Eric Casebolt, seen on that shocking viral video, yanking a 14-year-old bikini-clad girl to the ground, unholstering his gun on other teens, and later putting his knee into the girl's back, has now resigned.

The Dallas suburb's police chief said it's too soon to say whether he'll face charges.

CONLEY: Our policies, our training, our practice do not support his actions. He came into the call out of control. And as the video shows, was out of control during the incident.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do we want?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Justice!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Justice!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Justice!

MACHADO: This, as protests continue over the shocking incident.

CPL. ERIC CASEBOLT, FORMER OFFICER OF MCKINNEY, TEXAS, POLICE DEPARTMENT: On your face!

MACHADO: Some teens at the pool party say the police officer's actions were definitely racially motivated.

[06:10:03] ZACH TWA (PH), WITNESS: Right when he came, black kids over there, white kids there. We want to see all the black kids, because we think we all did something, and the white kids, y'all are innocent. You guys can just go and take your phones out.

MACHADO: The local police union has said that teens and adults were trespassing at the privately-owned pool and that there were reports of vandalism and fighting in the area when officers responded.

Casebolt's attorney has not responded to CNN's requests for comment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACHADO: We've been told Casebolt will not be talking to reporters today, but we have learned this morning that his attorney is expecting to hold a news conference this afternoon -- Chris.

CUOMO: All right, Alina. Thank you very much.

Big question here, is President Obama ready to send troops, hundreds more to help train and advise Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS? It seems that they are coming to a decision on that and soon.

So let's get to CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, what do we know? How real is this?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris.

Well, multiple sources telling CNN that, yes, the White House has made a decision; likely to see very soon an announcement from the administration, 400 to 500 additional U.S. troops going to Iraq, mainly to be trainers.

This will up the number of trainers, essentially coming close to doubling it in Iraq. But most of these new troops will go to Anbar province west of Baghdad. Very difficult area. Lots of fighting there. The real goal is to get more Iraqi forces and more Sunni tribal militia members trained up, back into the fight, ready to fight ISIS.

But I can tell you that already this morning, one military official saying don't overplay this. It's an adjustment, not a change in strategy. From the point of view from the Pentagon, this doesn't fix Iraq, and it certainly doesn't answer the administration critics, like John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who want to see U.S. troops on the ground picking out targets, want to see more airstrikes. Don't look for a big change in strategy. An adjustment, more trainers. But one of the big issues is the Iraqis have to show up at these training sites -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, Barbara. Thanks so much for that update.

Well, yet another black eye for the Secret Service. Dozens of newly- hired officers assigned to the White House and other sensitive posts do not have the proper national security clearance. According to "The Washington Post," some of those officers even had access to classified material. A rush to hire new staffers in the wake of several security lapses is being blamed. The Secret Service director promising to fix this problem quickly.

CUOMO: A startling development in the James Holmes murder trial. Three jurors have been dismissed by the judge and escorted out of the courtroom for hearing about news coverage of the trial and discussing the case. Now as you probably know, those would be grounds for a mistrial. Holmes is facing murder charges for opening fire inside a Colorado movie theater. He killed 12 people. He wounded 70 others. CAMEROTA: You'll like this next story. A service dog is recovering

from surgery after jumping in front of a school bus to save his blind owner. Eight-year-old dog Figo, the dog, and Audrey Stone were taking a walk in Brewster, New York, Monday morning when a minibus slammed into them. Witnesses say the golden retriever cushioned the blow by leaping in front of his owner just before impact. Figo is recovering from leg surgery. Stone suffered three broken ribs, a broken ankle and a broken elbow. She says her first priority is to be reunited with Figo.

Would your dog do that for you?

CUOMO: I hope he wouldn't have to. But I'll tell you, first of all, I hope they take a look at why it happened with that bus driver.

But I think there's something special about dogs. I really do.

CAMEROTA: I know you do. I know. You do get attached.

CUOMO: We love our pets. But it's -- that's an amazing story. But it happens. You know? Pets are -- dogs are amazing.

What do you think? All right, so when we take a little break to allow you to give your thoughts on dogs and other pets.

The video that led to a Texas police officer's resignation. We're going to go behind the scenes of what actually happened here from this kid who was there. He's the one who shot the video. What did he see? Because why this happened is just as important as anything else.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:18:06] CAMEROTA: The McKinney, Texas, police officer captured on this video throwing a teenage girl to the ground and then pointing his gun at others at a pool party, now off the force. Eric Casebolt resigned after this video went viral.

Joining us now is Brandon Brooks. He took that video.

Good morning, Brandon.

BRANDON BROOKS, SHOT VIDEO OF POLICE INTERACTION: Hello.

CAMEROTA: Hi. We're so happy to have you here, because there are still so many questions about what happened during this incident. Can you explain to us, what were all of you kids doing at this pool? Were you invited or were you trespassing there?

BROOKS: Well, actually, we were all invited over Twitter. That's how most of us found out. And no, we weren't trespassing.

CAMEROTA: I see. So there was an invitation that went out over Twitter, so it got bigger than maybe the owners expected?

BROOKS: Yes.

CAMEROTA: OK. And then what caused the police to come? Was there a fight that broke out?

BROOKS: Yes, there was. Between one of the parents at the party, not at the party, I'm sorry. But at the pool and one of the kids from the party. The parent was making racial slurs to one of the kids and saying offensive things toward her.

CAMEROTA: And you heard that? Did you hear those racial slurs?

BROOKS: No.

CAMEROTA: That's just what you heard the fight was about?

BROOKS: Yes.

CAMEROTA: OK.

BROOKS: That's what...

CAMEROTA: OK, then police show up. And then what happened? How does it get so confrontational with the police?

BROOKS: Once the police showed up, there was one officer. And there was, like, maybe 50 kids running around and running away. So the parent starts screaming, "You need more cops. You need more cops." And the officer called in nine more units and started chasing around all these kids and putting them on the ground and putting them in handcuffs, detaining them.

And by the time I started filming, all the kids who he had just put on the ground had gotten up and ran away. And so that was the officer running toward the kids who had just started running away when I started filming.

CAMEROTA: And Brandon, why did you start filming?

BROOKS: I started filming because it was getting, like, really tense, I could say. It was getting very out of control. There was a lot of people running around, screaming. Yes.

CAMEROTA: And Brandon, was it your impression that the officer or officers were just going after the black kids?

BROOKS: No, not exactly, but I do think that some racism was involved in the detaining of the kids.

CAMEROTA: Why?

BROOKS: Because when I was standing there filming, all my friends around me, my black friends, African-American friends, they were all getting put on the ground and having to stay there and they hadn't done anything at all but just stand there. They were innocent bystanders who were placed on the ground for no reason. And I -- the cop kind of skipped over me for just standing there. I was doing the same thing as them.

CAMEROTA: Brandon, do you think that the officer at the center of this who has now resigned, did he see you filming him?

BROOKS: Yes, he did.

CAMEROTA: Did that make you nervous?

BROOKS: No.

CAMEROTA: Why -- why were you able to continue filming, even after he pulled his gun out?

BROOKS: I continued filming after he pulled his gun out because the gun wasn't in my direction. Probably if the gun was faced in my direction, I probably would have stopped filming and gotten away from the situation.

CAMEROTA: What did you think was going to happen once he pulled his gun out?

BROOKS: I, personally think that he was going to shoot one of those kids.

CAMEROTA: That's what you thought was going to happen?

BROOKS: Yes. I do think he was going to shoot one of those kids. You could see in the video, two cops kind of like pulled him back, like, and checked him, like, you know, to kind of give him a heads up like, hey, calm down.

CAMEROTA: Brandon, your video that we're watching now has been viewed 10.6 million times online.

BROOKS: Wow.

CAMEROTA: I mean, if this -- if you hadn't taken this video, none of us really would have known about this story.

BROOKS: Yes. And actually, I didn't post on YouTube thinking it would go viral or anything. I posted it on YouTube because a lot of my friends on -- were texting me, asking me for it. So I just put it on YouTube and sent them all a link, and it went viral from there.

CAMEROTA: What do you think that the officer resigned?

BROOKS: I'm very shocked that he resigned. I bet a lot of people weren't expecting that. And I don't know if that was the right thing to do. I mean, probably for his family, yes.

CAMEROTA: You know, Brandon, so many people, certainly, on my Facebook page have said, if only these kids complied. If only these kids had listened to the officer and sat down and not run around, none of this would have been happening. Do you see it that way?

BROOKS: I guess I could see it that way. But none of us -- I think that the kids who were placed on the ground didn't believe that they deserved to be placed on the ground, so they got up and tried to go home and get away from the situation. CAMEROTA: Brandon Brooks, thank you for sharing the video, letting us

show it and for telling us the story. You've answered a lot of questions. We appreciate it.

BROOKS: Thank you so much.

CAMEROTA: Let's get over to Chris.

CUOMO: Alisyn, how instructive and what a great point you made. If that kid hadn't taken that video, which way would this conversation go? The video has mattered so much. Great, great point.

All right. So Jeb Bush in the news. He's faced some rocky moments. It's what happens when you're thinking about maybe announcing to run for president. But is he worried about it? Doesn't sound like he is. John King is going to tell you what he said that makes my point, coming up on "Inside Politics."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:28:35] CUOMO: We have new developments for you in the manhunt for those two prisoners who escaped a maximum-security New York prison. According to sources, a woman who works at the prison -- her name is Joyce Mitchell -- allegedly planned to help the convicts make a getaway. But she supposedly says she got cold feet.

We're also learning that, from her cell phone, calls were made to contacts of one of these murderers. And police got a tip, and they were swarming a town 40 miles south of the prison. There was a report of two suspicious people on the road. They supposedly ran when the car got closer to them. That is in the Willsboro community. But so far, no further information.

CAMEROTA: Just incredible video. Look at that.

Well, the National Transportation Safety Board expected to reveal today whether the engineer of that Amtrak train that derailed in Philadelphia was on his cell phone. Investigators reportedly leading towards the conclusion that Brandon Bostian was not using his phone at the time. This, as the Senate holds a hearing today calling for train safety improvements.

CUOMO: And that is a very important point. Don't forget positive train control. Very big deal.

All right. Now, Jon Stewart had a little fun with my family's "sibling rivalry" last night on "The Daily Show." It's so funny that even I have to show it. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO, NEW YORK: We were looking for a reporter to go into a prison and maybe stay there for about a year or so, and then do an expose...

CAMEROTA: I knew it. A. CUOMO: ... on prison life. If you have any suggestions.

Any help you need with your co-host, I am in a position to be helpful.

[07:30:05] Oh, I have some very secret strategies that have worked very well. Knowing the right information about him keeps him very docile.

CUOMO: Problem is they haven't built a prison that can hold me yet. Other than Mary (ph).

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": Aha! Gotcha, bro! By the way, I'm going to need to stay at your place tonight.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: All right, I'm done laughing. What is your take on it?