Albuquerque, NM - Handcuffed Dangerous Sex Offender Steals Bernalillo County Deputy's Patrol Car - Escapes

Cuffed suspect flees in patrol car
Posted: Oct 1, 2008 09:04 AM EDT


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Investigators say a sex offender lived up to his high-risk reputation when he was handcuffed in the back seat but still managed to escape by driving away in a deputy's patrol car.

According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department, Michael Marquez, 28, settled in for a good night's sleep in a car outside a South Valley house on Monday night.

Then deputies startled him awake around 11:30 p.m. when they picked him up for three outstanding warrants. They went in knowing he was dangerous, deputies said.

"He is a registered sex offender, and he's categorized as a high-risk sex offender," sheriff's Lt. Greg Rees said. "He has been arrested for narcotics violations in the past, and he's also a documented gang member."

While cuffed with his hands behind him, Marquez got his hands in front of his body, stepped out of one deputy's car and into the driver's seat of another.

All this took place in front of Betty Oldfield's house. She watched as Marquez sped away.

"We heard a screeching, and saw the smoke and all that," Oldfield told KRQE News 13. "And the cop said, 'Oh, damn it!'"

Typically with a suspect in the back seat, an officer engages the child safety locks so the suspect just can't let himself out. Investigators are looking to see if the child lock wasn't on or whether Marquez escaped through an open window.

Miles away on Barcelona Road SW Marquez decided to ditch the squad car and run for it.

"He just completely got lucky, got the vehicle and was able to drive away," Rees said.

. This time he made it all the way to jail where he's facing a long list of new charges.

The sheriff's department is interviewing the deputies to see if there was any wrongdoing. If so, there could be disciplinary action taken.
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