Hunt for Handcuffed Escapee Enters Day 2

Authorities continued their search today for a burglary suspect who slipped out of handcuffs while in the custody of two park rangers in San Clemente.

The suspect, who investigators believe is a transient named Jeff Webster, had his hands bound behind his back but managed to get free and bail out of a park ranger vehicle at San Clemente State Beach just after 7 a.m. Monday, according to state parks Superintendent Rich Haydon.

Webster remained at large this morning, said Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock.

According to Haydon, Webster was initially approached by a ranger at Avenida Califia about illegal camping, but investigators suspect he was involved in the burglary of a concession stand in the area.

Webster is white, about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds, with a buzz haircut, brown hair and a “soul patch,” Haydon said.

As a precaution during the initial search, Concordia Elementary School in the 3100 block of Avenida del Presidente was placed under a “shelter in place” order for about an hour Monday morning.

Late Monday morning, the active search was called off, but it was reactivated in the afternoon when there was another sighting, Hallock said.

Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts was urged to call the sheriff’s department at (714) 647-7000.

City News Service

Photo: OCSD