Midland Police apprehended an escaped inmate in Midland Monday afternoon. Jose Guadalupe Lopez walked away from his work detail group Monday afternoon in Midland County officials say.
Authorities say Lopez and a group of inmates were told to sit and wait for a van to take them to another location to work. Lopez got up and walked away from the group. Sheriff Gary Painter of Midland County explained inmates have walked off from work detail in the past–but have been caught every time.
“He took off running and got rid of his jail uniform,” Painter said. “He was wearing thermal underwear.”
Painter explained authorities usually don’t have this problem with a work detail group.
“We’ve only had maybe two or three at the most,” Painter said. “That’s in the last 30 years.”
Reports show Lopez ran to a nearby business to use the phone and then hid in a storage unit. His attire made him very noticeable and a citizen in the area kept an eye on him.
“He was under constant observation by a citizen that called in,” Painter said.
Midland Police found Lopez within 20 minutes of his jail-break and took him back into custody. As for security at the jail, the Sheriff says it’s safe.
“We’re very secure, it’s proper,” Painter said. “There’s nothing that would require any additional personnel.”
Painter and other officers make sure every inmate knows the consequences of trying to escape from jail
“They know they’re going to get another charge,” Painter said. “They know they’re going to do up to 10 years in the penitentiary.”
Any inmate who tries to escape will be charged with felony escape which holds up to a ten year penalty.
“If they want to run and get that stupid, that’s up to them,” Painter said.
(Information from YourBasin.com)
