8 inmates escape [5 Remain At Large] from NM jail, including murderer

[Grande]

8 inmates escape from NM jail, including murderer
1 hour ago

CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — Eight inmates, including a convicted murderer and another man charged with murder, escaped from a county jail by cutting a hole in the roof, authorities said Monday.

One of the men was captured by Clovis police, but the other seven remain at large.

The men were discovered missing at 9:45 p.m. Sunday, when Clovis police noticed two people in orange jumpsuits running near the jail, the sheriff's department said. The inmates apparently had used handmade instruments to cut the hole in the roof.

The only sign of the men Monday was an orange jumpsuit found in a trash bin behind a Clovis fast-food restaurant, the department said in a news release.

One of the missing inmates was Edward Salas, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a 10-year-old boy. Shots were fired through the child's bedroom window as he slept.

Another escapee, Larry McClendon, was charged with murder and aggravated robbery in the January 2007 death of a secondhand store owner.

New Mexico State Police Lt. Eric Garcia said motorists are being stopped and questioned on roadblocks on the outskirts of the eastern New Mexico town.

"If they do see or suspect someone who is one of the escapees, they should immediately call 911," Garcia said.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWrVsafkRGvEWBB1LYpXvTxdH60wD92PEIF80

[Grande]

Updated at: 08/25/2008 12:11:22 PM
By: The Associated Press
8 Curry Co. inmates escape; 7 remain at large

(AP) - Eight inmates, including a convicted murderer and another man being held on an open charge of murder, have escaped from the Curry County jail.

The Curry County Sheriff’s Department says all but one man remain at large today.

The department says the men used handmade instruments to cut a hole in the roof of the jail.

Clovis police officers noticed the men Sunday night as they were running near the jail.

The sheriff’s department says among the men are Edward Sales and Larry McClendon.

Salas was sentenced to life in prison last month for the 2005 shooting of a 10-year-old Clovis boy, who was killed when shots were fired through his bedroom window as he slept.

McClendon was charged with an open count of murder in March for his role in the January 2007 slaying of a secondhand store owner in Clovis.

http://kob.com/article/stories/S554924.shtml?cat=517

[Grande]

8 Curry County inmates escape from jail in Clovis
By BETSY BLANEY Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated Press
Aug. 25, 2008, 1:26PM

CLOVIS, N.M. — Eight inmates, including a convicted murderer and another man being held on an open charge of murder, escaped from the Curry County jail by cutting a hole in the roof, the Curry County Sheriff's Department said.

All but one man remained at large Monday as agencies around the region were alerted, the department said in a news release.

Curry County Sheriff Matt Murray said at a news conference Monday the department was working on a variety of leads. Authorities are searching an Albuquerque home and following up on a lead in Cactus, Texas.

"Please do not approach these individuals because they are considered dangerous," Murray said.

The men were discovered missing at 9:45 p.m. Sunday, when Clovis Police Department officers noticed two people in orange jumpsuits worn by jail inmates running near the jail, Murray said.

The inmates apparently had used handmade instruments to cut the hole in the roof near a skylight, he said.

"We have a feeling that they have split up and went different ways from finding some of the jumpsuits throughout the city," he said. He declined to answer questions.

The sheriff's department says among the men are convicted murderer Edward Salas of Clovis and Larry McClendon, who was being held on an open count of murder and aggravated robbery.

Salas was sentenced to life in prison last month for the 2005 shooting of a 10-year-old Clovis boy, who was killed when shots were fired through his bedroom window as he slept.

He was being held at the jail before being transferred to the state Department of Corrections, the news release said.

McClendon of Plainview, Texas, was charged with an open count of murder in March for his role in the January 2007 slaying of a secondhand store owner in Clovis.

One man, Victor Apodaca, was chased and captured by Clovis police officers, Murray said.

New Mexico State Police Lt. Eric Garcia said motorists are being stopped and questioned on roadblocks on the outskirts of the eastern New Mexico town.

"If they do see or suspect someone who is one of the escapees, they should immediately call 911," Garcia said.

The other at-large men and the charges against them are: Victor Sotelo, 26, of Portales, aggravated assault; Javier Zapata, 19, of Texico, aggravated assault, shooting at a motor vehicle and child abuse; Raynaldo Enriquez, 19, of Clovis, multiple aggravated burglary, robbery and assault and battery charges; Michael England, 29, of Clovis, tampering with evidence and being a felon in possession of a firearm; Louis Chavez, 18, Albuquerque. The charges against Chavez were not disclosed.

Federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals, are assisting in the investigation, the sheriff's department said.

This escape is not the first for the detention center.

Last year, the jail changed its procedures and policies after an escape in late 2006 of an inmate who slipped out a door and wasn't missed for two days. The inmate was later captured.

The most recent escape before Sunday occurred July 15 when a female inmate hid behind a food cart and was able to reach the street, the Clovis News Journal reported. The woman was caught seconds later after she was knocked down by a passing vehicle while trying to cross a street.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5964697.html

[Amusedtdth]

8 Curry County inmates escape from jail in Clovis
By BETSY BLANEY Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated Press
Aug. 25, 2008, 1:26PM

CLOVIS, N.M. — Eight inmates, including a convicted murderer and another man being held on an open charge of murder, escaped from the Curry County jail by cutting a hole in the roof, the Curry County Sheriff's Department said.

All but one man remained at large Monday as agencies around the region were alerted, the department said in a news release.

Curry County Sheriff Matt Murray said at a news conference Monday the department was working on a variety of leads. Authorities are searching an Albuquerque home and following up on a lead in Cactus, Texas.

"Please do not approach these individuals because they are considered dangerous," Murray said.

The men were discovered missing at 9:45 p.m. Sunday, when Clovis Police Department officers noticed two people in orange jumpsuits worn by jail inmates running near the jail, Murray said.

The inmates apparently had used handmade instruments to cut the hole in the roof near a skylight, he said.

"We have a feeling that they have split up and went different ways from finding some of the jumpsuits throughout the city," he said. He declined to answer questions.

The sheriff's department says among the men are convicted murderer Edward Salas of Clovis and Larry McClendon, who was being held on an open count of murder and aggravated robbery.

Salas was sentenced to life in prison last month for the 2005 shooting of a 10-year-old Clovis boy, who was killed when shots were fired through his bedroom window as he slept.

He was being held at the jail before being transferred to the state Department of Corrections, the news release said.

McClendon of Plainview, Texas, was charged with an open count of murder in March for his role in the January 2007 slaying of a secondhand store owner in Clovis.

One man, Victor Apodaca, was chased and captured by Clovis police officers, Murray said.

New Mexico State Police Lt. Eric Garcia said motorists are being stopped and questioned on roadblocks on the outskirts of the eastern New Mexico town.

"If they do see or suspect someone who is one of the escapees, they should immediately call 911," Garcia said.

The other at-large men and the charges against them are: Victor Sotelo, 26, of Portales, aggravated assault; Javier Zapata, 19, of Texico, aggravated assault, shooting at a motor vehicle and child abuse; Raynaldo Enriquez, 19, of Clovis, multiple aggravated burglary, robbery and assault and battery charges; Michael England, 29, of Clovis, tampering with evidence and being a felon in possession of a firearm; Louis Chavez, 18, Albuquerque. The charges against Chavez were not disclosed.

Federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals, are assisting in the investigation, the sheriff's department said.

This escape is not the first for the detention center.

Last year, the jail changed its procedures and policies after an escape in late 2006 of an inmate who slipped out a door and wasn't missed for two days. The inmate was later captured.

The most recent escape before Sunday occurred July 15 when a female inmate hid behind a food cart and was able to reach the street, the Clovis News Journal reported. The woman was caught seconds later after she was knocked down by a passing vehicle while trying to cross a street.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5964697.html

How do you escape and NOT be noticed for 2 days? Whats the point in having a jail?

[Grande]

Inmate recaptured, leaving 5 fugitives at large
Associated Press - August 26, 2008 9:35 AM ET

CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) - Authorities have recaptured a third inmate who escaped from the Curry County Jail in Clovis, New Mexico.

District Attorney Matt Chandler said this morning that 19-year-old Javier Zapata was taken into custody by federal marshals last night in Cactus, Texas. That leaves five fugitives on the loose.

Eight inmates shimmied up pipes behind a wall in a jail shower Sunday night. Then, they cut a hole in the roof and apparently used an evergreen tree to break their fall from the two-story building.

One was captured by police a short time after escape, and another was caught last night in Lubbock by authorities acting on a tip.

Police believe most of the men remaining at large have separated but investigators believe 2 of them remain together.

http://www.kdbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=8900903&nav=menu608_2_4

[Grande]

DA: NM escaped inmates may have had inside help
17 hours ago

CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — Five inmates who broke out of a New Mexico jail — including a killer and a man accused of murder — remained on the loose Tuesday, and a prosecutor said investigators were focusing on the possibility that someone inside aided in the weekend escape.

Eight inmates escaped Sunday from the Curry County jail, but one was quickly captured and two others were caught in nearby Texas. District Attorney Matt Chandler said investigators believe some of the remaining escapees could be in west Texas.

"We're still receiving tips that some of the other fugitives, at least one or two of the other fugitives, could be in" the Lubbock area, he said.

Chandler told The Associated Press in a phone interview that New Mexico State Police began looking closely Tuesday at whether anyone inside the jail helped the men escape.

They are "working that angle very hard, and that's going to be a very high-priority focus," he said. Chandler did not say what led investigators to suspect that the inmates might have had inside help.

The eight men were discovered missing late Sunday when Clovis police officers noticed two people in orange jumpsuits running near the jail, according to Curry County Sheriff Matt Murray. Authorities believe the men used handmade instruments to cut a hole in the roof near a skylight.

Among the escapees are convicted murderer Edward Salas, 23, of Clovis, and 19-year-old Larry McClendon, who was being held on an open count of murder and aggravated robbery.

Salas was sentenced to life in prison last month for the 2005 shooting of a 10-year-old Clovis boy; the child was killed when shots were fired through his bedroom window as he slept. Salas was being held at the jail before being transferred to the state Department of Corrections.

McClendon, of Plainview, Texas, was charged with an open count of murder in March for his role in the January 2007 slaying of a secondhand store owner in Clovis.

The other at-large men and the charges against them are: Victor Sotelo, 36, of Portales, aggravated assault; Michael England, 29, of Clovis, tampering with evidence and being a felon in possession of a firearm; and Louis Chavez, 18, Albuquerque, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property and extreme cruelty to animals.

Inmate Victor Apodaca was chased and captured soon after his escape Sunday. Raynaldo Enriquez was caught Monday in Lubbock, and Javier Zapata, 19, was captured by U.S. marshals Monday in Cactus, Texas.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWrVsafkRGvEWBB1LYpXvTxdH60wD92Q86I83

[emmeblu]

DA: NM escaped inmates may have had inside help
17 hours ago

CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — Five inmates who broke out of a New Mexico jail — including a killer and a man accused of murder — remained on the loose Tuesday, and a prosecutor said investigators were focusing on the possibility that someone inside aided in the weekend escape.

Eight inmates escaped Sunday from the Curry County jail, but one was quickly captured and two others were caught in nearby Texas. District Attorney Matt Chandler said investigators believe some of the remaining escapees could be in west Texas.

"We're still receiving tips that some of the other fugitives, at least one or two of the other fugitives, could be in" the Lubbock area, he said.

Chandler told The Associated Press in a phone interview that New Mexico State Police began looking closely Tuesday at whether anyone inside the jail helped the men escape.

They are "working that angle very hard, and that's going to be a very high-priority focus," he said. Chandler did not say what led investigators to suspect that the inmates might have had inside help.

The eight men were discovered missing late Sunday when Clovis police officers noticed two people in orange jumpsuits running near the jail, according to Curry County Sheriff Matt Murray. Authorities believe the men used handmade instruments to cut a hole in the roof near a skylight.

Among the escapees are convicted murderer Edward Salas, 23, of Clovis, and 19-year-old Larry McClendon, who was being held on an open count of murder and aggravated robbery.

Salas was sentenced to life in prison last month for the 2005 shooting of a 10-year-old Clovis boy; the child was killed when shots were fired through his bedroom window as he slept. Salas was being held at the jail before being transferred to the state Department of Corrections.

McClendon, of Plainview, Texas, was charged with an open count of murder in March for his role in the January 2007 slaying of a secondhand store owner in Clovis.

The other at-large men and the charges against them are: Victor Sotelo, 36, of Portales, aggravated assault; Michael England, 29, of Clovis, tampering with evidence and being a felon in possession of a firearm; and Louis Chavez, 18, Albuquerque, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property and extreme cruelty to animals.

Inmate Victor Apodaca was chased and captured soon after his escape Sunday. Raynaldo Enriquez was caught Monday in Lubbock, and Javier Zapata, 19, was captured by U.S. marshals Monday in Cactus, Texas.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWrVsafkRGvEWBB1LYpXvTxdH60wD92Q86I83

:mad:Must have had inside help! How on earth do prisoner's have the ability and privacy to cut through a ceiling without being noticed by guards? Wonder who's shift that happened on?

MOO