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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: |
April 02, 2008 |
Tom Smith, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal
W/TX - San Antonio Division
(210) 472-6540 |
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The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force Along with the Boerne Police Department
Arrests San Antonio Jail Escapee |
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San
Antonio – The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF) and the Boerne
Police Department captured jail escapee Esequiel Pena today in Boerne,
Texas.
It is believed that on Sunday, March 30, 2008, 35 year old Esequiel Pena
escaped around 3:00 p.m. from the recreation yard at the GEO Group Holding
Jail in downtown San Antonio. The recreation yard is 8 stories up and is
enclosed by a chain link fence. Pena was able to separate the fence and
squeeze through. He then worked his way to the fire escape and disappeared.
When the United States Marshals Service sponsored LSFTF was notified of this
escape, they launched a massive manhunt and media blitz in the search for
Pena. All of the attention paid off today when a concerned citizen in Boerne
notified the Boerne P.D. they had spotted Pena at an apartment located in
the Arbor Apartment Complex in Boerne. The Boerne P.D. notified the LSFTF
and together, a plan was set in motion to make entry into the apartment and
arrest Pena. At approximately 11:30 a.m. today Pena was arrested without
incident in that same apartment.
Boerne Police Department Assistant Chief Jim Kohler had this to say “Boerne
is a wonderful place to live and work and we will not tolerate the likes of
Pena coming into our community. I am proud of the citizen that came forward
and I am also proud of the way the Boerne Police Department handled this
matter. It was a great cooperative effort between us and the LSFTF.”
The United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas LaFayette
Collins said “Because of the reputation of the LSFTF, the Boerne P.D. did
not hesitate to call us. A spirit of cooperation is essential in our line of
work. Today’s arrest of a wanted and dangerous felon bears that out.”
Participating agencies in this investigation and arrest:
- Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
- Boerne Police Department
- Comal County Sheriff’s Office
- San Antonio Police Department-ROP
- SAISD Police Department
- Texas Dept of Criminal Justice – OIG
- United States Marshals Service
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