Inmate Escapes San Quentin State Prison​

SAN QUENTIN, CA – An inmate walked away from San Quentin State Prison and then may have carjacked someone nearby on Wednesday night, according to prison officials.

The inmate, identified as 21-year-old Shalom Mendoza, was discovered to have walked away from an out grounds support facility around 9:35 p.m. during an institutional check, Lt. Samuel Robinson said.

A search of the area determined Mendoza had escaped, and the prison then activated its emergency operations and escape pursuit plan to try and find him, Robinson said.

Prison officials believe Mendoza then may have carjacked a motorist who was driving a Toyota Rav4 with a California license plate 6STZ502. According to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations Press Secretary Vicky Waters, a positive identification is still being confirmed on the suspect who stole that vehicle near the prison Wednesday night.

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 described as being 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and weighs 177 pounds.Anyone with sees Mendoza or knows where he is should call Robinson at 415-455-5000 or 911.

By Bay City News Service

Image courtesy of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation