Escaped San Quentin Inmate Captured In Paso Robles

SAN QUENTIN, CA – An inmate who walked away from San Quentin State Prison earlier this week was taken into custody in San Luis Obispo County, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

A civilian spotted Shalom Mendoza, 21, at a Taco Bell in the San Luis Obispo County city, CDCR officials said. He was taken into custody without incident.

Mendoza was spotted around 4:20 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at a Dollar Store in the city of San Miguel, according to officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He purchased dark clothing and was no longer wearing his prison uniform.

Investigators believe Mendoza was headed south toward the Los Angeles area.

San Rafael police said that a car Mendoza was suspected to have carjacked on Wednesday was found just north of Paso Robles on Friday.

Mendoza was reported missing during an institutional count around 9:35 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

"He was assigned to work outside the secured perimeter of the prison, as many inmates are, and he took advantage of an opportunity to leave," Lt. Samuel Robinson said.

After determining Mendoza had escaped, the prison activated its emergency operations and escape pursuit plan to try and find him, Robinson said.

Prison officials believe Mendoza then carjacked a motorist in a Home Depot parking lot near the prison. The Toyota Rav4 with a California license plate 6STZ502 was found abandoned Friday off Highway 101 north of Paso Robles.

Mendoza was incarcerated after being sentenced to five years in prison for using a deadly weapon during a carjacking/attempted carjacking and evading or attempting to evade peace officers while driving recklessly in Los Angeles County in December 2017, Robinson said. He arrived at San Quentin on April 28.

Mendoza is considered dangerous, Robinson said. He is described as a 5-foot-5, 177-pound Hispanic man with short brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone who sees Mendoza or knows where he is should call Special Agent Eric Lauren at 559-351-3979.

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Image courtesy of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation