Inmate Jams Cell Lock in Temple City, Escapes : Fugitive: Remodeling work enabled the burglary suspect to walk away because security gates were not in use. Man is considered dangerous.

A burglary suspect who “definitely did not want to go back to state prison” stuffed pieces of paper into his cell lock, preventing the bolt from catching when the door closed, then escaped from a Temple City holding cell, authorities reported Thursday.

Ronald Anthony Hicks, 36, was aided in his escape Wednesday night from a temporary cell at the Temple City Sheriff’s Station by remodeling work under way at the facility, said Sgt. Daniel Edginton.

Hicks would have had to pass through several additional gates, Edginton said, “but because of the construction, there were no gates there.”

Hicks had been arrested Tuesday after a burglary victim in Monrovia led police to a nearby house where the suspect was visiting, said Sheriff’s Detective Terry Wiese. Investigators had been planning to charge Hicks with the crime Thursday morning and were going to arraign him at the Rio Hondo Courthouse in El Monte, Wiese said. Hicks was also wanted on a parole violation for a conviction stemming from an assault with a deadly weapon, Wiese said.

On Wednesday night, as deputies removed other prisoners from the holding cell for transport to other facilities, Wiese said, Hicks stuffed torn pieces from his paper lunch sack into the cell’s lock casing.

When a jailer closed the door and then pulled it to make sure it was locked, the door held, Wiese said, prompting authorities to speculate that the prisoner might have held it shut to fool his jailers.

About 20 minutes later, according to an unidentified witness, a man who fit Hicks’ description was seen exiting the back door of the jail and running off. Hicks is described as about 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing about 260 pounds. He was wearing a black shirt and jeans, the clothing he wore at the time of his arrest.

Wiese did not have access to Hicks’ criminal record, but said the prisoner’s arrest record showed extensive contact with police in California, Florida, Oregon and Texas. The investigator described Hicks as dangerous and possibly armed.

“He’s had a weapon in the past and used a weapon in the commission of a crime,” Wiese said. “He definitely does not want to go back to state prison, so we can only assume for the safety of citizens and officers who may be looking for him that he is dangerous.”

According to Edginton, it is the first jailbreak from the station, which has been under renovation for about 18 months.

Times staff writer Stacy Wong contributed to this story.