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CNN Live At Daybreak

New Mexico Inmates Recaptured After Jail Break Last Night

Aired August 09, 2001 - 08:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: Last night at a New Mexico jail, four inmates escaped as they overpowered guards. Two were captured last night, two more this morning.

And we want to go now to Socorro, New Mexico, where Lieutenant E.P. Higgs is standing by to discuss this and talk about this dramatic video that we have from surveillance cameras.

Lt. Higgs, you were one of the first to respond to the call. Again, was there a procedural problem with what led to the escape, as we look at some of the surveillance video? What went wrong?

LT. E.P. HIGGS, SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO POLICE: Essentially, we haven't discovered any problems with their procedures. They were taking the inmates back from a meal plan back into their cells at which time three of the escapees jumped on top of and battered one male. The female detention officer dialed 911. She was then subdued by George Soca (ph) and choked out and taken into the detox cell at which time they were secured in there. The three males and one female then escaped from the detention center.

CELLINI: Yes, this was at the Socorro County Detention Center. This is a relatively small town so you were able to get tips quickly that allowed you to reapprehend the inmates, yes?

HIGGS: Yes, the people on Grant and Bagley Street here in Socorro, New Mexico, provided some very needed - much needed information very quickly within 15 minutes. George Soca and David Solomon were arrested by the New Mexico State Police in a house on Bagley Street. From those two arrests, they were quickly detained and the jail itself was opened back up. We were able to get the EMTs to check out the two detention officers that had been battered by the escaping prisoners.

CELLINI: What happens to these prisoners now?

HIGGS: Essentially they're - they've - they're all back in custody. The last - the last one was captured or turned herself in at 3:00, 3:30 in the morning. They will all be charged with escape from jail, conspiracy and assault by a prisoner on a detention officer. If any other pending charges are to arise, we'll have to go through the district attorney's office for approval. The case is still under investigation and we don't know if anyone else was involved from the outside. CELLINI: All right, thank you. Lt. E.P. Higgs from the Socorro, New Mexico Police Department, thank you very much.

HIGGS: Thank you.

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