Thursday, March 13, 2008

News of the Weird (dozen) - Too much freedom?

Scott Gomez filed a lawsuit in January against authorities in Pueblo County, Colorado, alleging (among other things) that they failed to take precautions to prevent him from breaking out of the county jail. Gomez claims he injured himself in January 2007 when he fell 40 feet while trying to climb down one of the building's exterior walls. The suit contends that the facility was easy to get out of, but they "did next to nothing to ensure that the jail was secure and that the Plaintiff could not escape." *


It couldn't have been that easy, no? I mean, dude had to scale down at least one four story building. That would be my argument.

From the police blotter:

On January 10, 2007 at approximately 11:30 P.M., two inmates escaped the custody of Pueblo County Jail. Medical personnel working in the jail reported to security that they had heard a loud “thud” on the outside of the building.

Sergeant Mark Lightcap immediately responded to the outside of the facility and apprehended an injured Scott Anthony Gomez DOB 03/22/1985. Sergeant Lightcap then preceded obtaining medical assistance for the injured Gomez and activating security procedures in the jail.

Gomez, as you may recall, was one of the two men that previously escaped through the ventilation system of the Pueblo County Jail and was being held on escape, parole violations and aggravated robbery...

The alleged escape route includes an area of the jail that is currently under reconstruction efforts. The entire ceiling area in all secured areas of the jail is being fortified to prevent escapes. This particular area of the jail was identified by security and maintenance as needing repairs...

Preliminary investigative effort indicates the inmates removed a vent screen from the shower area and climbed through utility and venting areas to the roof.

*"News of the Weird" reported by Chuck Shepherd; Chicago Reader, p. 101; Feb 14, 2008.

2 comments:

  1. The last time I broke out of jail, I stubbed my toe on the guard who was passed out drunk under the window of the county jail. I coulda got money for that??? Damn!

    ReplyDelete
  2. i like the part where the medical personnel report a loud "thud" on the roof.

    ReplyDelete

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