Man Sought After Escape From the Pitchess Jail

A Los Angeles man awaiting trial on a burglary charge escaped early Sunday morning from a maximum security facility at Pitchess Detention Center, prompting a massive manhunt throughout the area by 150 sheriff’s deputies.

The search for Pedro Cavajal, 40, who had been incarcerated at Pitchess for two years, also included a helicopter crew and canine units and patrols from local towns, according to Deputy Carrie Stuart of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s information bureau.

The escapee had not been caught by early evening and residents in the Castaic area near Pitchess were warned to keep their windows and doors locked, their children inside and to shun hitchhikers.

Cavajal was reported missing when he was not in his bunk during a routine inmate count between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., Stuart said. His absence was then confirmed by a facility-wide wristband check, Stuart said.

Cavajal was described by jail authorities as being 5 feet 9 and about 170 pounds.

The inmate was wearing blue and white jail clothing at the time he escaped, Stuart said.

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Residential areas near the facility were notified at 7 a.m. by sirens at Pitchess that an escape had occurred, Stuart said. Shortly thereafter, sheriff deputies rode through nearby communities to read a prepared script through loudspeakers.

“Lock all doors and windows to your homes and report any suspicious persons or circumstances to your local law enforcement agency,” the deputies announced, according to Stuart.

Stuart also had a warning for motorists. “We are asking the public not to pick up any hitchhikers on the streets surrounding the facility as well as [on Interstate 5],” she said.

Cavajal was initially arrested in April 1995 on suspicion of rape, but Stuart said she had no information on whether he was charged or brought to trial in connection with the arrest. He was, however, due to appear in court this Thursday on a burglary charge, but Stuart said she had no information on the nature of that charge.

After Cavajal was reported missing, deputies began their search in the maximum security facility, which is used to house violent criminals. They then searched the 2,800-acre site and moved into surrounding areas.

As of Sunday night, Pitchess authorities had not determined how Cavajal escaped from the facility, Stuart said. Cavajal was a jail trustee who worked in the Pitchess kitchen and on janitorial crews.

Local residents can call (805) 295-3515, 295-3516 or 295-3517 for a recorded message on the status of the search, Stuart said.