Warrant: Lubbock County inmate stole transport vehicle after asking to throw up
Investigators believe a Lubbock County inmate escaped custody in the middle of being returned to jail last week after stealing the vehicle he was riding in when the officer driving pulled over to let him throw up.
Benjamin Soliz, 36, who was caught Thursday after being on the lam for more than seven hours, faces charges of escape while in custody and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Court records show Soliz, who has been held at the Lubbock County Detention Center since Feb. 2 on charges of stalking and theft, was taken to Rankin in Upton County for a bench warrant and was being returned to Lubbock County by an Upton County Detention Center officer.
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During the trip, about 2 p.m., Soliz reportedly asked the officer to pull over, saying he got sick from the food he had at the Upton County Jail.
The officer pulled over and let Soliz out to allow him to vomit.
The warrant states the officer told investigators he never saw any vomit come out of Soliz, but placed the prisoner back in his seat when he was done and saw that he was fully restrained.
However, as the officer made his way back to the driver's seat, he heard his vehicle's door locks engage and saw Soliz sitting in the driver's seat. The warrant does not state how Soliz switched seats without the officer noticing.
Soliz drove away from the scene and the jailer's vehicle was found wrecked and abandoned near the intersection of County Roads 2830 and 7700.
Meanwhile, deputies investigating a call about a utility task vehicle theft found security camera video that showed Soliz, who by then had discarded his jail clothes and was wearing a white t-shirt and white boxer shorts, steal the vehicle and drive away.
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Lubbock County Sheriff's officials said Soliz was caught about 9:18 p.m. in the 6700 Block of Cedar Avenue in Lubbock.
Thomas Soliz, 34, was also arrested in the area and booked in to the Lubbock County Detention Center on charges of hindering apprehension or prosecution and outstanding traffic violations.
Both men remain remain in custody as of Monday.
Benjamin Soliz's bond is set at $300,000 for the escape charge, $10,000 for the stalking charge and $2,500 for the theft charge.
Thomas Soliz's bond is set at $75,000 for the hindering charge and $100,003 for an unrelated injury to a child charge, according to jail records.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Warrant provides more details in Lubbock County inmate's escape
