Sheriffs catch
prison escapeesWarrant teams used files and
followed tips to track two fugitives
State deputy sheriffs captured two escapees yesterday by tracking their acquaintances and hangouts and following up on tips, said a state official.
"There was no luck involved. I had warrant teams out who had arrested these women in the past. We have full files and dossiers on them, so we know where to start looking," said James Propotnick, interim director of the state Department of Public Safety.
Kimberly Takata, 33, and Michelle Padilla, 27, escaped from Oahu Community Correctional Center on Monday night.
One team tracked Takata and a 22-year-old man Propotnick described as her boyfriend to Keeaumoku Street.
"They were going shopping in Ross (store) when our guys picked up behind them and followed them into the parking structure and arrested them," Propotnick said.
That was at 9:30 a.m.
Another team had earlier tracked Padilla to a home in Nuuanu. The deputies called the home, and Padilla agreed to meet them in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven Store at 1602 Nuuanu Ave. She was taken into custody at 5:50 a.m.
Both women were booked for escape at the Honolulu District Court cellblock and then taken to the Women's Community Correctional Center in Kailua.
The man who was with Takata was arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution, then released pending investigation.
Investigators have not determined whether he was one of two people who were waiting for Takata and Padilla in a getaway car outside the fence at OCCC on Monday. The car he was driving yesterday does not match the getaway car. It is being held until officials can obtain a warrant to search it.
The man was indicted with Takata in two separate cases earlier this year in which he pleaded no contest to theft as well as drug and drug paraphernalia possession. He was granted the opportunity to erase the charges from his record if he stays out of trouble for five years. Takata pleaded no contest to burglary and guilty to drug and drug paraphernalia charges in those cases last week and was at OCCC awaiting sentencing.
Padilla was at OCCC awaiting trial for drug and drug paraphernalia possession. However, the U.S. Marshals Service is waiting to take custody of her on similar federal charges.
State prison officials said Padilla and Takata walked through the unlocked front door of OCCC's women's module after six other inmates created a diversion. They squeezed through a hole in the exterior fence created by accomplices outside, officials said.
Officials stepped up security following the escape by locking all doors to the living facilities, including the fire escapes, and having roving patrols outside the prison.
Also, the guard tower overlooking the fence that was breached is now staffed around the clock. No guard was assigned to the tower at the time of the escape.
Monday's escape was the second breakout from a state prison last month. Albert Batalona, Warren Elicker and David Scribner escaped from Halawa Correctional Facility April 4 and were captured six days later.
Propotnick was previously the U.S. marshal in Hawaii. He believes the escapes are an indication of how desperate drug abusers have become.
"Its a new era -- increased use of drugs. It's the ice (crystal methamphetamine) age that causes the dependency and the behavior that far outstrips what we've been used to."