The Shortstack Redemption: Two inmates spark a manhunt after digging a tunnel with a toothbrush – before being arrested at the IHOP nine hours later
- Arley V. Nemo, 43, and John M. Garza, 37, were released from prison with a toothbrush
- The two Hampton, Virginia, inmates were reported missing Monday night
- Hours before her detention at IHOP, a hole was found near her prison cell
Two escaped inmates clearly had one thing in mind as they used tools made from a toothbrush to dig out of a Virginia jail — pancakes.
Fugitives Arley V. Nemo, 43, and John M. Garza, 37, were discovered at the Hampton IHOP at 4:20 a.m. Tuesday morning, nine hours after they were reported missing at 7 p.m. Monday during a staff count at the Newport News Jail Annex .
The preliminary finding showed that the inmates found a “design flaw” in the prison’s architecture and used “primitive tools” made out of a metal object and a toothbrush to force their way out before scaling the prison wall , according to the Sheriff of Newport News Bureau.
The two were able to force their way through the prison wall and found “unbound rebar” which they later used to successfully escape and made it 6.6 miles to the Pancake House before being captured.
It is not clear which part of the prison the couple escaped from. A photo released by the Newport News Sheriffs Department, apparently taken from outside the prison, shows the couple breaching at least two layers of the wall, leaving a man-high hole.
The two were able to force their way through the wall and found “unbound rebar” which they later used to successfully escape. Pictured: the hole in the Newport News Jail Annex
Arley V. Nemo, 43, and John M. Garza, 37, were reported missing during a staff count Monday at 7 p.m. at the Newport News Jail Annex. Pictured: Arley Nemo
The asked the Newport News Sheriff’s Office where the prisoners escaped from the prison, how long they had been held before escaping, who reported them to the IHOP and why and how they may have made it this far without detection could.
“Many of your questions are part of our investigation, so we won’t be able to answer them until it’s complete,” they replied.
According to Google Maps, it would have taken the prisoners two hours and 15 minutes to walk to the Hampton IHOP.
Nemo and Garza have not been formally charged with escaping the facility, but officers are working to ensure it never happens again.
“I thank the Newport News Police Department, the Hampton Police Department and the James City County Police Department for their assistance in our attempt to recapture these inmates,” said Sheriff Gabe Morgan.
“In addition, I am grateful to the citizens who observed Garza and Nemo at the IHOP and alerted law enforcement.
“It reinforces what we always say, ‘See something, say something.’
The Newport News Jail is a municipal facility with a high brick wall topped with barbed wire at the back. The front of the prison faces 26th Street and has a narrow alleyway on one side that runs between the front and back of the building.
It’s unclear how long the two were in jail, but officials said Gaza was a Hampton resident who was arrested for probation violations, contempt of court and failure to appear.
Meanwhile, Nemo, who is from Gloucester, has been in jail on multiple charges including credit card fraud, theft, forgery, contempt of court, possession of burglary tools, aggravated theft and violating probation.
An aerial view of the municipal Newport News Jail in Virginia, where Arley V. Nemo and John M. Garza escaped Monday before being spotted 6.6 miles away at an IHOP in Hampton
Nemo and Garza then made their way to a Hampton IHOP (above) and were reported by customers shortly after. Police arrested the occupants early Tuesday morning
Nemo and Garza have not been formally charged with escaping the facility, and officers are working to ensure that it never happens again. Pictured: Prison Newport News