[Scott from the Left Coast]

I thought the same thing at first blush -- but it seems obvious that they want the quarry to attempt to run for it (for whatever reason, perhaps to also get any others that might be helping them now).

If they put this out into the media, then they've got these guys under watch every second of the day and they aren't worried a bit about them slipping out. This was a plant story -- this story is one that is specifically put out there for someone(s) in particular to read and act on. The rest of us become just voyeurs in this communication.