By Hans Wilder | The Watertown Post
KINGSTON, Ontario — This one is close enough to home that people along the St. Lawrence River should probably pay attention.
Kingston Police are searching for 49-year-old Mason Jenkins, an inmate serving a life sentence for first-degree murder who disappeared from the minimum-security unit at Collins Bay Institution on Thursday, September 24.
Jenkins was discovered missing during the institution’s 11:15 a.m. count. Correctional Service Canada says a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Police describe Jenkins as approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and around 255 pounds, with a fair complexion, brown eyes and a shaved head. He was last seen wearing a light green jacket, blue jeans and rubber boots.
He is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. Kingston Police have issued a very straightforward warning: if you see him, do not approach him. Call 911 immediately.
Now here is where this becomes more than just another Kingston crime story for readers of the Watertown Post.
Kingston sits directly across the water from Northern New York. Cape Vincent, Clayton, the Thousand Islands and communities all along the American side of the St. Lawrence are part of the same geographic neighborhood.
There is currently no evidence that Jenkins has crossed the international border or that he is attempting to reach the United States. That needs to be made absolutely clear.
But if you’re a fugitive serving a life sentence, hanging around Kingston indefinitely probably isn’t at the top of the vacation itinerary either.
And around here, we know that crossing that stretch of water isn’t exactly impossible.
A few months ago we had the considerably less threatening case of an escaped pet parrot from the Kingston area that reportedly managed to make its way over to the American side.
The bird apparently figured out international travel without a passport, customs declaration or Nexus card.
And somehow it even survived the neighborhood around the Wolfe Island wind turbines.
So yes, we can laugh about the parrot.
Mason Jenkins is a very different matter.
This is a convicted murderer who police are specifically warning the public not to approach. For Watertown Post readers, boaters, fishermen, cottage owners and residents around Cape Vincent and the Thousand Islands, the important thing is simply to keep your eyes open.
Nobody needs to start searching barns or wandering around the shoreline playing bounty hunter.
If you see someone matching Jenkins’ description, don’t approach him. Don’t confront him. Don’t try to become Dog the Bounty Hunter of Jefferson County.
Call 911.
Kingston Police are asking anyone with information about Jenkins’ whereabouts to contact them at 613-549-4660, extension 0.
Hopefully Canadian authorities find him quickly.
Because we’ve already had the parrot.
We really don’t need Kingston sending us anything else across the river.
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