Prison escapee leaves apology flower
VAN BUREN, Ark. (AP) - June 27, 2008 Luis Camacho-Mendoza was recaptured a day later on Wednesday in
a Van Buren home after police received a tip. Investigator Ken
Howard said Camacho-Mendoza was found hiding in a closet in a pile
of clothes with a pillowcase over his head.
"But he wasn't hiding too good because you could see the
outline of his head in the pillow case," Howard said. "We all
grabbed him pretty quick and he didn't seem to be resisting."
Authorities said Camacho-Mendoza was in jail on drug charges and
was expected to be deported to Mexico by immigration officials.
In his escape, Camacho-Mendoza broke open a lock on a kitchen
door using a tool made from two screwdrivers, authorities said.
Camacho-Mendoza worked in the kitchen.
When the inmate was discovered missing, authorities also found
the flower, Howard said.
"When we asked him about that, he said he felt sorry for the
captain for escaping," Howard said. "(The flower) looked pretty
nice."