County Jail Escapee Captured at Mall
A Los Angeles County Jail escapee was captured at Fox Hills shopping mall in Culver City Tuesday after he was recognized by a jewelry store employee, authorities said.
Keith Williams, 28, was taken into custody shortly after noon by Culver City police officers, who were called to the jewelry store by a security guard, sheriff’s deputies said. Police said Williams was carrying a knife when he was arrested.
Williams had been awaiting trial for armed robbery when he made his weekend breakout from the Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles by using a rope of bedsheets. His escape was discovered about 7:30 a.m. Sunday by deputies who found a rope fashioned from bedsheets tied to a rail and dropping about three stories to the ground.
The jewelry store employee recognized Williams from news reports. But the suspect didn’t realize he had been recognized, giving the employee time to call police, investigators said.
Williams’ bail, previously set at $25,000, was revoked when he was again booked into County Jail on suspicion of escape.
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