Search for Escaped Inmate Continues After Mall Sighting

The Florida Department of Corrections is asking folks in the Tampa Bay area to keep their eyes open for an inmate that escaped custody Monday from the Tarpon Springs area.

According to the agency, Raul Diaz, 27, was housed at The Transition House of Tarpon Springs. He was reported missing from custody just before 3 p.m. Monday.

Diaz was convicted on grand theft and burglary charges and sentenced to just over 2 years in August 2014.

Clearwater Police received a call shortly after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday that Diaz had been spotted at Westfield Countryside Mall. A Transition House employee happened to be at the mall, taking another inmate for a job interview, and spotted Diaz riding a bicycle, an email from the Clearwater Police Department stated.

“When they yelled his name, he jumped off the bike and ran,” the email said. “He later entered the mall on the second floor on the north side and ran through the mall. He exited the southeast side of the Mall at Macy’s and ran from the mall in a southeast direction.”

Multiple police units responded to the mall and began a search. Once it was determined Diaz had gone into and out of the mall in about a mimute, mall operations were allowed to resume as normal, the email said.

Diaz was last seen wearing khaki pants, tennis shoes and a peach-colored shirt.

Anyone who sees Diaz is asked to contact local law enforcement or call the Department of Corrections at 850-922-6867.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Department of Corrections