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Fleeing Prisoner Is Caught in a Jam at San Diego Airport

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<i> Times Staff and Wire Reports</i>

A traffic jam near San Diego’s major airport aided in the recapture of a fugitive who bolted from his escort while he was being returned to Texas on Monday.

According to a release from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff’s Detective Rich Miller dropped off Detective Howard Kimble of Harris County, Tex., and inmate Jose Pastor at Lindbergh Field.

Kimble checked in with the Continental Airlines ticket agent and was told that company policy requires inmates to be unrestrained. When Kimble removed Pastor’s restraints, the prisoner ran from the terminal, authorities said.

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Miller, meanwhile, was attempting to return to his office but was stuck in traffic. Miller saw Pastor running through the traffic lanes, so he abandoned his car and pursued him on foot. Miller recaptured Pastor at gunpoint and took him back to the terminal for his flight, authorities said.

Pastor, 35, was being held here on charges of auto theft and grand theft.

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