A man taken into custody on burglary charges Monday attempted to escape from a Los Angeles County jail, but sheriff’s deputies captured him a short time later, officials said.
Ryan Martinez, 20, of Palmdale, was arrested Monday in Santa Clarita and accused of residential burglary, L.A. County sheriff’s officials said. Martinez was in a locked jail interview room at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. Investigators were waiting for one of the alleged victims, who was expected to provide a positive identification of the suspect.
When the victim was brought into the interview room, authorities discovered “chalky powder on the floor.” Martinez had removed ceiling tiles, climbed into the ceiling crawl space and replaced the tiles behind him, officials said.
Deputies surrounded the building and searched the station. Martinez was soon captured after he was spotted running through the building.
Martinez was charged with attempted escape, in addition to his original felony burglary charges. He was taken to the inmate reception center in downtown Los Angeles and was being held Monday night in lieu of $130,000 bail.
– – Scott Gold
