CAPTURED: After 12 hours on the lam, escaped prisoner back in custody



RACINE (WITI) -- 36-year-old Jesus Arroyo, a prisoner who escaped from custody shortly before 1 p.m. on Monday, June 2nd, has been found and taken into custody.

There was a massive manhunt for Arroyo, considered dangerous and possibly armed, in Racine County on Monday -- after Arroyo escaped from custody.

"Pretty much everyone who was on duty from our department -- Mount Pleasant and the Sheriff's Department came in," Racine Police Sgt. Jessie Metoyer said.

Arroyo was on the loose for nearly 12 hours.

Schools were placed on lockdown on Monday afternoon as police searched.

Then, shortly before midnight, Racine police officers responded to a call for a suspicious person in the 200 block of Harrison Street.

When police arrived, the suspicious person fled the scene on foot.

At that time, a short foot chase ensued.

However, the individual was quickly taken into custody -- though a taser had to be deployed on him. He was positively identified as Jesus Arroyo.

Apparently, Arroyo only made it about two miles from the area where he escaped.

"We believe he was on foot the entire time -- just trying not to be detected," Sgt. Metoyer said.

The Racine County Sheriff's Office sent a voicemail message to residents in the area on Tuesday morning -- thanking them for their assistance in the search.

"This message goes out as a thank you to everyone in the community for keeping an eye out after receiving our message (Monday) regarding escaped inmate Jesus Arroyo. Thank you for your help to get him back into custody," the message said.

Arroyo was being transported to the Racine County Jail by a Department of Corrections agent on Monday afternoon when he escaped.

Police say when the DOC agent attempted to escort Arroyo to the jail prisoner entrance, Arroyo took off running onto Wisconsin Avenue.

"He was being escorted by one agent and there was an open door and he was able to flee before being taken into the jail," Sgt. Metoyer said.

He had belly chains and handcuffs attached when he escaped -- and was apparently still wearing them when he was found.

His escape resulted in a massive manhunt -- with searches occurring from the air and on the ground.

Arroyo had previously been convicted of several felony offenses — including first degree reckless injury, burglary to a building or dwelling, escape, and possession with intent to deliver THC.

Arroyo was being held on a parole violation when he escaped.

FOX6 News can now link a story we brought you last week with Arroyo.

He was arrested in Milwaukee in connection with a case involving stolen cars, armed robberies — and possibly murder.

CLICK HERE to learn more about that case.

The Department of Corrections, in charge of transporting and handling Arroyo when he escaped issued a statement to FOX6 News on Tuesday, June 3rd:

"DOC was transporting Jesus G. Arroyo from House of Corrections (HOC) to Racine County Jail for a probation hold on June 2. The circumstances of this incident are currently under investigation by the Racine County Sheriff."

The Racine County Sheriff's Office tells FOX6 News the DOC is investigating the incident.

As the details continue to be sorted out, Arroyo is scheduled to be in court on Wednesday, June 4th.

"There`s further investigation continuing into the escape and other additional charges he may be facing," Sgt. Metoyer said.