By Matthew Reisen
Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
SANTA FE, N.M. — Police in Santa Fe captured a man who escaped their interview room through the ceiling earlier Wednesday, according to a department spokesman.
Greg Gurulé of the Santa Fe Police Department said 28-year-old Ryan Rubel Martinez was back in custody Wednesday night and is charged with felony theft, possession of stolen property, escape from custody, aggravated burglary, resisting and obstructing a police officer.
He said police initially arrested Martinez for felony shoplifting charges at a Home Depot for the second time in two weeks and brought him to the police station for processing.
The holding cell was already in use and officers were forced to put Martinez in an interview room, Gurulé said.
“When an officer left the interview room briefly to attend to paperwork, Martinez stacked chairs on the floor and escaped through a ceiling tile into the police building,” he said. “Officers searched the police station building and nearby areas, but Martinez had apparently been able to slip out a back door.”
Gurulé said officers received tips that Martinez was running South on Cerrillos and soon got a 911 call of a burglary in progress in the Nava Adé neighborhood where Martinez fought with the homeowner after he was found in the house.
“Martinez, who was still handcuffed and was in possession of stolen items was able to take the victim’s vehicle keys but ran on foot from the home,” he said.
Gurulé said responding officers found clothing that belonged to Martinez and set up perimeter in the area. Soon after, Martinez was spotted running from the area and arrested by officers around 7 p.m.
©2017 the Albuquerque Journal