SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) – One of three violent fugitives who escaped from an Orange County jail surrendered to police Friday by contacting a woman he knew at an auto electric repair shop just a few miles away, authorities and witnesses said.
Bac Duong, 43, was taken into custody in Santa Ana, where the trio made their brazen escape on Jan. 22 from the maximum security facility, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said. The other two jail fugitives remained at large.
Lee Tran, whose family owns Auto Electric Rebuilders, said Duong came to the shop looking for Tran’s sister, Theresa, and told her that he wanted to surrender.
“He was scared for his life, pretty much,” Tran said. “That’s why he asked one of our people to turn him in.”
Tran said his sister called 911 and Duong stayed outside, smoked a cigarette and waited for police.