North Dakota State Penitentiary, North Dakota
End of Watch: Monday, May 27, 1946
Age: 58
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: May 27, 1946
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Released in 1966
Corrections Officer John Oles was stabbed to death during a prison escape from the North Dakota State Penitentiary's old main building.
The 21-year-old prison trusty stabbed Officer Oles with a bread knife before escaping. The man had served two months of a one year sentence for auto theft. He was captured by a posse and subsequently sentenced to life in prison. In 1964 his sentence was reduced to 20 years. He was released in 1966.
Officer Oles had served with the North Dakota State Penitentiary for four years. He had no known survivors.