Inmate still at large after California jail escape; 4 others captured

Four inmates were recaptured and one remains on the loose after their Friday night escape from Madera County jail, officials said.

Roel Soliz, 29, of Chowchilla is still at large, according to the county sheriff’s office. He was in jail on charges of burglary, possession of a controlled substance, parole violation and probation violation, it said.

The other four men were recaptured Saturday, the sheriff’s office said. Abel Ramos, Juan Lopez and Ricardo Cendejas had been in the jail, northwest of Fresno, on charges of attempted murder and other violent crimes, it said. Jorge Lopez-Diaz was in custody on a robbery charge.

All four of the recaptured men were from Madera, where the jail is located, according to the sheriff’s office.

It was not clear how the men managed to break out about 9:15 p.m. Friday. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Erika Stewart said that nobody was injured and that “it was not a violent breakout, just a physical breach.”

On Saturday, Stewart would not say what, if any, relationship the five men had or whether they were connected to any local gangs. She also declined to comment on the search effort.

On Sunday, Stewart acknowledged the recapture of four of the men and declined to provide further details.

Photos provided by the sheriff’s office show Soliz with his arm in a sling. Stewart said she did not know whether he still has an arm injury.