Three Caught, One at Large After Colorado Jail Escape
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Otero County Jail (LA JUNTA, Colo.) — The small town of La Junta, Colo., is on high alert as authorities search for one remaining prisoner who escaped the Otero County Jail with three other inmates.
Curtis Apodaca, Johnny Nunez and Malcolm Hoffert were captured earlier Wednesday, according to the chief of the La Junta Fire Department, after escaping late Tuesday. No further details have been released regarding their capture.
Angel Castrejon is the only inmate still on the loose.
The Colorado National Guard, Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Department of Corrections told ABC News that they have been part of the search, along with the Otero County Sheriff’s Office.
In a statement posted on its website, the Otero County Sheriff’s Office said two inmates rushed and overpowered a detention officer at about 8 p.m. MST Tuesday. The two prisoners then let another two inmates out of their cell, and together the four fled the jail, shedding some of their jail clothing in a rail yard at the edge of town.
“After a skirmish inside, they were able to make their way out of the facility and head north from the sheriff’s office,” Otero County Sheriff Chris Johnson told ABC affiliate KRDO.
Roger Hudson with the Colorado Department of Corrections told ABC News that his organization has taken the lead on the search – deploying 50 or more people to hunt down the inmates – including a “canyon escape team,” which is used on rugged terrain.
“We will continue to assist the Otero County Sheriff’s Office until these men have been captured,” Hudson said.
In addition, a K-9 unit and a fugitive apprehension unit are helping locate the prisoners.
The Colorado National Guard said in a statement that it has a Black Hawk helicopter assisting the search, with “a crew of four citizen-soldiers on board.”
All four escapees were being held in jail awaiting court appearances.
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