Manhunt Continues For Escapee In Española (KOAT-NM)

Manhunt Continues For Escapee In Española
Two Española Schools Under Lockdown For Several Hours
POSTED: 12:48 pm MDT October 19, 2010

ESPANOLA, N.M. -- Five different police agencies continue to search for a man who escaped the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. The manhunt also left two Española schools under lockdown for several hours.

Police identified the escapee as Rafael Angel Juarez Rodriguez. Rodriguez is considered dangerous. He was originally arrested in Taos on an immigration warrant. Authorities said he was in the U.S. illegally.

Rodriguez slipped out of custody at about 10:30 a.m. while ICE officials were picking up another inmate in Española, according to police.

Rodriguez was last seen running for the hills in the desert behind Española Valley High School.

"The last information we have is that he was running to these hills behind the school and south of here. There is a lot of area that needs to be covered. We're trying to cover it by air by ATVs and on foot etc.," said Stacey Saize, with Española police.

Officials said Española Valley and Eutimio "Tim" Salazar III Elementary were placed under lockdown for the afternoon. They were both released by 3:30 p.m.

ICE officials, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe police, Española police and Santa Clara police are combing the area for Rodriguez. The agencies are using dogs and ATVs in their search.

Police said several homes in the area and a series of drainage pipelines that tunnel just south of Española Valley High were search with no results.

The search for Rodriguez is expected to continue into the night, police said.