RSSSunnyside jail escapee caught after three years
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- A gang member who escaped from the Sunnyside jail three years ago and was among the U.S. Marshals' 15 Most Wanted Fugitives is back in the United States after being caught in Mexico.
Aaron Lopez Garcia, 31, was arrested Friday night in Manzanillo, in the state of Colima, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals.
After appearing in front of a federal magistrate in California, he's expected to return to Washington, according to Darrick Swick, a deputy U.S. marshal in Richland.
"They flew him up here (to the U.S.) tonight," Swick said Saturday night. "He's in some part of California; I'm not sure where."
But, eventually, "He's coming back here," said Swick, who's been on the case since 2006.
Garcia -- who was wanted for escape and firearms violations -- and three other inmates escaped from the Sunnyside City Jail in late November 2006 using metal torn from a mop bucket. They had carved their way through a 1-inch-thick reinforced concrete ceiling, then crawled though ductwork to the roof.
The other three inmates -- Rolando Cortez-Orozco, Roberto Ruiz-Ochoa and Ernesto Gallegos -- were soon captured. All four were being held in the Sunnyside jail under a contract with the U.S. Marshals.
At the time of the jailbreak, Garcia was to be sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm. He had been discovered with a handgun on the floorboard of a vehicle in which he was a passenger on Feb. 10, 2005. Federal charges were filed, he went to trial and was found guilty.
In a separate 2000 case, he was convicted of possessing methamphetamine and of possessing a firearm.
Authorities arrested Garcia without incident near an ice cream factory. He was taken into custody by Colima state police with help from deputy U.S. marshals assigned to the agency's field office in Mexico City. U.S. and Mexican immigration authorities and U.S. Customs and Border Protection also aided in Garcia's arrest.
"This is wonderful news," Sunnyside police Deputy Chief Phil Schenck said Saturday night. "It's really nice that it's done. We've been looking for this guy for quite some time. A lot of resources have gone into this."
The 2006 breakout marked the first time anyone had escaped from the Sunnyside jail since it was built in 1997, Schenck said.
The hole Garcia and the three other inmates escaped through three years ago was just big enough for one person to crawl through, and it was carved in an area of the bathroom ceiling that was not visible to surveillance cameras nor from the door of the cell.
Since then, Schenck said, improvements have been made to the Sunnyside jail.
"I don't know where he'll end up, but I would welcome an opportunity to house him in our jail again," Schenck said. "He would not escape again."
According to the U.S. Marshals, Garcia is a documented member of the Norteños gang and has a history of convictions that include robbery, domestic violence, burglary and assault.
"Aaron Garcia's arrest is an excellent example of how we continue to benefit from an extraordinary relationship with Mexican authorities, as well as our fellow law enforcement agencies," John F. Clark, director of the U.S. Marshals Service, said in the news release. "Garcia has an extensive history of violence and the time has come for him to answer for his crimes."
(This comment has been removed by a Yakima Herald-Republic moderator)
I've said before and I'll say again: garbage is garbage no matter what color you are. How funny, deported from Mexico! They're probably thinking why WE Americans can't keep our criminals out of their country. You know with a name like Aaron he has to be 2nd/3rd generation.
Report ViolationNick and fredo, i understand deeply your concern about gangs/garbage. I agree with most of your statements. However i will defend my race and culture and state that the reason why a lot of younger teens, pachucos, tend to stray off into gangs is because of racism, degrading comments, gestures, and sometimes even lifestyles. Racism has been around for centuries! A small gang crime of Hispanics isn't as big as an Oklahoma bombing? What race was the kid that did the Virginia Tech shooting? How about the guy that shot up Fort Hood just this past week? Crime and Violence comes in all shapes and sizes, colors and genders! If i can sit here and read your comment and understand your point of view, i hope in return you can do the same as well with mine! fredo has it right on the money, my cousin Aaron Garcia is a 3rd generation Chicano! This is the first, yes the First, newspaper/TV ad that actually posted the real facts about why he was in jail! A.M.W. didn't even come close. By the way did you know that my cousin was framed for that gun he had underneath his seat? @#$% what a coincidence that sometimes the Law is wrong??? Not everyone's perfect to your specification, but if we all we're perfect the world would be a lot more corrupt than you think? Or i might be wrong? Hmmmm makes you wonder? By the way Nick, all my family are LEGAL immigrants. But i always tend to ask, who's the real immigrant? We can cross a river and run for hundreds of miles and get sent back, and than there's Christopher Columbus that comes over thinking he discovered America? Exactly how much water did he cross? So if you would like to call anyone illegal, call everyone illegal! Be fair. Unless your indian/native? Than i do apologize for the statement! So even if this posting gets bumped by the Yakima-Herald, obviously some one out there actually read it! I'm not calling anyone "idiotic", just pointing out some questionable ideas to think about before stating a comment! Hope yall can leave this posting up! Thanks
Report ViolationDJ - I am not trying to be unkind or insensitive, but the answers, in order of the questions: Asian, Middle Eastern Muslim, Oh Yeah, I forgot the first one - Oklahoma, white supremacist, (not your run of the mill white guy). In other words, I get your point, nor have I ever thought differently.
Regardless of your enabling excuses for your cousin, he is a ganger. According to the latest State numbers, as quoted above, my comment stands. Further, I didn't say ALL gangers or their parents are illegals, I said many. I am correct in that as well.
Columbus was Portuguese working for the king of Spain, if I remember my history. He didn't even discover America, but they still teach that he did - typical revisionist history that should be corrected. American Indians came from both Aztlan and/or Asia. I am not one, but I am every bit as "native" as they are - and it seems, maybe even yourself. I was born here too.
And finally, crime is perpetrated by many different ethnicities and backgrounds. In our area, it seems to be by more Hispanics, sorry to say. In other areas, it might be blacks or Asians in some rare cases. That is NOT to say the all Hispanics are criminals, or even a great many that are here. Viva legal immigrants. Deport illegals of ALL races. They are felons and therefore are criminals.
Your cousin is a criminal even if he was framed on the gun thing as you say. Yet, he was convicted. Sorry, he doesn't get a pass from me. I'm being as fair as I can be. I am a law-abiding citizen. I expect everyone else to be as well.
I don't buy your sob-sister excuses to be a gang member. "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me", speaks some good advice. Don't tell me that your people don't refer to us as Gringos and pendejos and other equally insulting slang names. I hear it all the time. I could care less. All I do is consider the source.
The reality is that gang members are "Hispanic" in our community. It is not racist to say this. It is reality. We have to get past the race issue in order to solve this problem. The Latino community must take a leadership role on this issue and must receive 100% investment from the community to support addressing the gang problem.
Report ViolationWow very well said Nick. What made you think that this was a sob story? Yes your one of many people, including myself that would love to see criminals, and illegals gone. And if my cousin is one, so be it. I have no power, nor control over that. As a family member i know his true story and what he's done. At one point in his life he did do the crime and paid his time and got out, but he chose that lifestyle. None of us could've corrected it in any way. That's his choice. Nor this wasn't an attack towards you in any sense. Im a very open minded person when it comes to life and peoples views. My statements above is to only broaden your view, and i believe i did. Even if it meant you literally answering my questions! LOL! Everyone does have a voice! So i do encourage you to attend town meetings, and such in your area, to eliminate any problems or issues that law enforcement, community's, and everyday people could help resolve crime issues, illegals, etc. It seems to me that you do have a could strong role in who you are! All i ask is voice your view at those areas and not here through a conversation/forum via the Yakima-Herald. Whats a newspaper going to do about the issue. Create Drama! Everyone loves it but will not act upon it! Thank you for expanding my mind in your reply Nick, have a good day!
Report ViolationDJ - "All i ask is voice your view at those areas and not here through a conversation/forum via the Yakima-Herald."
I do that every chance I can get. My words and actions are the same.
As I see it, I believe this comment section, and those in many other newspapers, provides a chance for the general public to voice opinions/views on the articles as written, and learn where their views stand in relation to those around them. Additionally, these forums provide a great opportunity to work off personal frustrations, or share support, regarding world and local issues, and promote or protest certain local and world events in a discussion setting. This forum works even better than letters to the editor to make a TIMELY point, in my opinion.
Perhaps it's too bad that newspapers allow people to use aliases as screen names. These provide a certain feeling of security in one's identity and has a tendency to gather comments closer to one's true feelings. However, an alias provides a certain anonymity that may disclose some pretty dark thoughts, or wisdom, depending on where they stand compared to those of others and society. Using one's real name has a tendency to make one more sensitive in what they say and to accept responsibility for their words. I stand by my comments and therefore, use my real name.
In turn, the newspapers benefit by tracking the comments, (although, sometimes they get a little too picky in their censorship "duties") and get a sampling of public reaction to their stories. They get an inside view on public perceptions of political positions regarding candidates and electeds, public servants and agencies, and the issues specific to the jobs they are doing in our behalf - a running job performance review, if you will. They also get a feel for how their paper is scoring with their readers - equivalent to an instant public opinion poll.
Others read these comments and may be timid about writing their own, but I believe these comments have an influence, one way or another, on public opinion as well. Marketing one's own philosophy is only one benefit, as I see it.
so we flew him back from mexico for a firearm possesion huh. Yup, good use of tax money. Go get the murderers and child molesters.
Report Violationok sooo... i disagree not all hispanics are gang members, white people do the same things, yes not as many claim to be in a gang but do the exact same things that gangs do and involve themselves with gangs.
Report Violationwell Nick my names Benjamin nice to chat with u via this forum! I guess we can learn from each others beliefs and thoughts for who we are! LoL!
topp1993-he was brought back because he escaped from jail for the most part.
dyamond- yes that's what i referred to as in all shapes and sizes, and colors too. However Nick did put it nicely saying that the majority of the Yakima to Benton Counties are mostly Hispanic, latino, chicano, etc. As far as being involved in gang related activities. Dont take that statement as an attack, its merely a fact upon or census here!
also id like to add that um...those of you refering to someone, anyone to garbage isn't right, so what if he was caught in mexico. And everyones making such a big deal out of his arrest, I think it makes the law look dumb who spent alot of money to capture him when they could of been using that money on something more serious, like looking for the person who shot and killed a young women and dumped her body not to long ago in Sunnyside. Is anyone spending that much money on it?? don't think so, therefore her killer will probably never be found, just like the 14 year old girl whos body was found in a canal back in Feb. or gang members who shot and killed issac hinojosa back in jan of 08. the people responsible for these crimes will probably not be held accountable. :(
Report ViolationFREE THA HOMEBOY AZTECA THE REAL AZTECA DE ELE ERE A HOMEBOY KEEP UR HEAD UP F*** THE LAW FREE ALL THE REAL HOMEBOYS DE EL CINCO ZERO NUEVE YAKTOWN AND NICK U RACIST LIL PIECE OF U KNOW WHAT GET UR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE U TALK ALL THAT HEAD THAT UR ALWAYZ DOIN
FREE BENZELLE AZTECA CHINO F*** THE LAW!!!
N WHAT
NICK U AND UR MOMMA ARE GARBAGE I WOULDNT EVEN FEED U DOG FOOD LET ALONE LEFT OVERS I WOULD LET U STARVE UR THE REAL GARBAGE U PILGRAM
Report Violation
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