Second Prison Escapee Arrested in Palos Hills (UPDATE)

Updated 8:39 p.m.

A Palos Hills police lieutenant remains hospitalized after wrestling with a wanted man who escaped from a downtown Chicago correctional center in December.

Kenneth Conley, 38, was arrested by officers from the Palos Hills Police Department Friday afternoon. Police say Conley was hiding out in the basement of an apartment building at 10279 86th Terrace.

. Banks was arrested Dec. 21 in Chicago by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force and the Chicago Police Department.

A lieutenant involved in investigating the apartment was injured in a struggle with Conley, police said. The officer is being treated for pulled leg and back muscles at Palos Community Hospital.

FBI agents and deputy U.S. Marshals also were in Palos Hills earlier in the week investigating reports that Conley had been seen there, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The lieutenant, a sergeant and a patrol officer from the department were sent to investigate a report from two maintenance workers for the apartment complex, about a man who was living in the basement, said Palos Hills Deputy Chief James Boie. He declined to give out the names of the officers involved.

While waiting outside the building, the lieutenant spotted an elderly looking man who was walking near the building and caught his attention, Boie said. The suspicious man, who turned out to be Conley, had a beret pulled down over his face and was walking with a cane.

The officer was punched after Conley gave a fake name, Boie said. Conley reportedly struggled during the arrest.

"The lieutenant then went down to the ground, I believe with a pulled hamstring," Boie said. "The suspect then ran eastbound."

Conley was able to run into a nearby building in the same apartment complex, Boie said. The other two officers caught up to Conley as he tried to force his way into an apartment.

Conley was found with what police describe as a “look-a-like” BB gun.

Boie said Conley was arrested in 2004 for resisting arrest and obstructing a police officer after getting pulled over in Palos Hills. He also had a BB gun with in during that incident.

One resident of the Scenic Tree Apartments were Conley was allegedly hiding out said he didn’t realize anyone was down there.

“I was down there about five minutes before the whole thing happened,” said Brian Finley, 41. “I was putting the last load of laundry in.

Conley was turned over to FBI custody after his arrest. Boie said he likely will face charges from Palos Hills police, including battery and resisting arrest.

Patch Stories About the Hunt for the Escaped Convicts:

• FBI: Prison Escapee Caught in Chicago; Cellmate Still at Large
• Fugitive Manhunt: FBI Posts $50K Reward for Info on Convicts
• Landlord: Mother Turned Away Escaped Convict at Front Door
• Scenes From a Manhunt (Photo Gallery)
• Fugitive Search Disrupts Funeral at Nearby Church
• Orland Park Police Investigating False Bank Robbery Report