Pecos, N.M. – Four fugitives who escaped from a Colorado jail were caught in New Mexico after a brief pursuit along Interstate 25, state police said today.
Authorities spotted Dustan Amos, Simon Blanco, Peter Hernandez and Travis Becker in a reportedly stolen vehicle along Interstate 25 near Pecos and put down a “spike belt” to stop the car, said New Mexico State Police spokesman Jimmy Glascock.
All four occupants fled on foot but were captured a short time later, he said.
State police received a call around 3:30 a.m. today from the U.S. Marshals Service saying the escapees had been spotted at a Wal-Mart in Castle Rock, Colo. Glascock said state police were told to keep an eye out for them.
The four apparently escaped through a ventilation duct at the Washington County jail in Akron sometime around 9 p.m. Thursday night.
Authorities first said that 27-year-olds Amos, Blanco and Hernandez were believed to be traveling together in an older model Buick sedan – but later revealed a fourth inmate also had escaped.
Amos and Blanco were being held on federal charges at the Colorado jail, while Hernandez was a county inmate facing numerous counts, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Steve Wallisch in Denver.
Wallisch said the escapees gave up about 6:15 a.m.
They were in custody at an undisclosed location later this morning awaiting extradition.
