Two Virginia inmates fled from prison by using a toothbrush to dig a tunnel through their cell walls before going to IHOP.
As reported by The New York Post, John M. Garza, 37, and Arley V. Nemo, 43, were found to be missing from their cell at around 7:15 PM, according to the Newport News Sheriff's Office.
The outlet stated that the men used "primitive-made tools constructed from a toothbrush and metal object" to smash open their walls and access unsecured rebars.
"Those tools facilitated their access to untied rebars between the walls. Once gaining access to the rebar, they used it to further make their escape," the police added, per Insider.
The pair were then spotted at the pancake joint in the city of Hampton on Tuesday (March 21) morning, which is about seven miles from the Newport News jail.
However, the sheriff’s office revealed that Garza and Nemo were soon apprehended at IHOP after onlookers noticed them and quickly contacted the police.
Sheriff Gabe Morgan has now shared a statement expressing gratitude to his fellow cops for helping recapture the two men and to bystanders for their assistance.
"I extend my gratitude to the Newport News Police Department, the Hampton Police Department, and the James City County Police Department for their assistance in our attempt to recapture these inmates," he wrote.
"Moreover, I’m thankful for the citizens who observed Garza and Nemo at the IHOP and notified law enforcement. It reinforces what we always say 'see something, say something,'" he added.
A photo of the hole allegedly made by the inmates was released on social media by law enforcement. It displays a fairly standard oval, with irregular edges.
According to the Washington Post, a preliminary investigation revealed that the convicts took advantage of a "construction-design weakness" to start their escape. However, the sheriff has not disclosed further details of the escape due to security reasons.
The first inmate, Garza, had been in custody on several charges that includes probation violations, contempt of court, and failure to appear.
Meanwhile, Nemo was also being held on numerous charges, such as credit card fraud, credit card larceny, forgery, possession of burglary tools, grand larceny, contempt of court, and probation violation.
Due to the incident, the Newport News facility management and engineering team are examining ways to ensure that the facility's security works.
Police officers have also announced that they will be executing a criminal and internal investigation to lessen the chances of another escape.
Furthermore, both inmates are expected to face additional charges for their escape.
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