Crime & Safety

Update: Escapee From Sheriff Patrol Car Found in Santee

Arrested on drug charges, he escaped around midnight and was found at Carlton Hills/Carlton Oaks this morning.

Updated May 12 @ 4:15 p.m.

A manacled drug suspect managed to escape from the back of a patrol car in the East County while en route to jail and remained at large overnight before being recaptured this morning.

Dylan Montgomery Castle, 20, was initially taken into custody shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday in the 9300 block of Carlton Oaks Drive in Santee for allegedly possessing narcotics and drug paraphernalia, sheriff's Sgt. Tom Poulin said.

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Prior to transporting Castle to jail, the arresting deputy stopped by Santee Fire Station to have medics evaluate a minor injury he had suffered while detaining the suspect.

"At this time, it is believed Castle, who was seated in the rear of the patrol vehicle, was somehow able to slip his handcuffs from behind his back to the front," Poulin said. "He reached his arms through the rear window and opened the car door. Castle then ran from the vehicle."

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After receiving treatment for his injury, the deputy returned to his squad car. Believing Castle was lying down on the back seat, the deputy left for San Diego Central Jail. While heading downtown, however, he realized Castle was no longer inside the vehicle.

Sheriff's personnel and San Diego police then began looking for Castle. The search continued in vain throughout the night.

About 7 a.m., Santee deputies received a call from someone who reported seeing a man matching the description of the suspect, who had been profiled as a fugitive on television newscasts. Deputies searched the area of 9400 Carlton Oaks Drive and found Castle hiding in a laundry room at an apartment complex in the neighborhood, Poulin said.

Castle was booked into San Diego County Jail on narcotics charges. He was expected to face additional criminal counts related to resisting arrest and escape, the sergeant said.

-City News Service


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