Man being transported to MDC temporarily escapes custody

A man being transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County was able to escape police custody for a short time Wednesday afternoon before he was caught.

22-year-old Joseph Maestas was arrested by US Marshals Task Force officers Wednesday morning on four felony and two misdemeanor warrants. APD says he also had heroin on him when he was arrested after a short foot chase.

When he was taken to MDC around 12:45 p.m., he was able to slip his handcuffs to the front of his body while still in a transport van, according to APD.

Once the van arrived to the secure parking lot outside the jail, he fled past transport officers as they unloaded the inmates.

Maestas was able to climb over a 25-foot fence surrounding the parking lot and run into the mesa south of the jail.

Law enforcement officers were able to get him back into custody after APD says Maestas “gave up.” He was then taken to a hospital after complaining of a medical issue.

Just last week, officers statewide searched for two inmates who escaped Department of Corrections custody while en route from Santa Fe to Las Cruces. Both were arrested days later.