Washington state failed to detect an inmate's escape from jail for two days until the man's defense lawyer stopped for a visit and asked to see him, the Associated Press reported. Back in custody in Marysville City Jail, north of Seattle, the prisoner is now facing a possible escape charge along with a previous robbery allegation.
Rhyan Vasquez, 19, had vanished for two days before anyone noticed that he was missing, according to court papers. It wasn't until last Wednesday when his attorney stopped by the jail to see him when the inmate's disappearance was noticed.
"When the jail staff went to get him, they noticed he was missing," a police report said.
On Sept. 16, the Marysville man was booked into the jail on misdemeanor warrants out of Marysville Municipal Court.
"When he went AWOL, he was scheduled to be transferred to the Snohomish County Jail to be booked for investigation of first-degree robbery," according to The Daily Herald. "In that case, he allegedly punched a new acquaintance in the back of the head and stole his cellphone, wallet and other belongings. Vasquez is also accused of hitting the man in the face with a closed fist, a blow that broke the man's jaw and knocked out one of his teeth."
After analyzing the surveillance video, authorities were able to retrace Vasquez's disappearance on Sept. 22, where he was seen backing out of a door, into a hallway, and then walking through a back door used by police department employees.
The escape occurred while the suspect was among several inmates walking back from a Bible study class that had been held in a visitation area. However, a corrections officer in charge of escorting the inmates back to the jail said he never saw the man leave the room.
On Sept. 26, two detectives were able to track down Vasquez after questioning his associates, said Robert Lamoureux, a police spokesman.
Vasquez is being held on $200,000 for the robbery allegation and another $50,000 for the escape, according to The Daily Herald.
