SALINAS — In a scene reminiscent of a movie plot, Monterey County Sheriff’s investigators say two escaped County Jail inmates with different gang affiliations teamed up to bust through a bathroom ceiling en route to making their getaway over the weekend.
Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. John Thornburg said during a news conference on Monday that investigators determined that Santos Fonseca, 21, and Jonathan Salazar, 20, exploited a “blind spot” in the hallway of the jail housing unit where they were awaiting trial on murder and other charges, then made a 22-inch by 8-inch hole through sheetrock and metal screening in a bathroom ceiling.
After climbing into the area above the ceiling, Fonseca and Salazar wedged their way through another hole and then through a hatch to the jail grounds, and escaped from there, according to Thornburg. He said the two inmates’ jail-issued clothing was found outside the facility. The inmates were discovered missing at 8:15 a.m. Sunday.
Thornburg said the inmates were able to avoid the jail’s video surveillance system outside the jail because they were screened behind construction fencing as part of the jail expansion project.
Sheriff’s investigators are still looking into the details of the escape, including when the inmates were last seen, when they made their escape and whether they had help.
“We’re going to do everything we can to find out what happened, when it happened and how it happened,” Thornburg said. “We will do everything we can to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
An active search is underway for the fugitives, who are both considered armed and dangerous. Both were born in Salinas so have local ties, according to Thornburg. Sheriff’s detectives are seeking the public’s help including offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to their capture. However, Thornburg warned against attempting to apprehend the inmates and advised anyone who spots them to call 9-1-1.
Both fugitives are described as 5-foot-7 with black hair and brown eyes, while Fonseca weighs about 150 pounds and Salazar weighs about 170. Salazar has the letter P tattooed on his right cheekbone.
Thornburg said both inmates were incarcerated in a “unique” jail housing unit which includes gang dropouts. Although Fonseca and Salazar were both born in Salinas, they are associated with different gangs. Salazar is charged with murder with a special enhancement of committing the crime for the benefit of the Sureno street gang. Thornburg said Fonseca is affiliated with the Norteno gang though he said he didn’t know Fonseca’s status with the gang. That the two inmates would work together is unusual given the two gangs are typically sworn enemies.
Fonseca was in jail after being arrested for the 2018 murders of Lorenso Acosta on Klamath Drive in Salinas on June 2 last year and Ernesto Cruz at El Dorado Park in Salinas three days later. He was already wanted for attempted robbery at the time of his arrest for the murders.
Salazar was arrested in July last year for the October 2017 shooting death of Jaime Martinez as the victim drove in Salinas with his girlfriend and 18-month-old son, according to the Associated Press. He was also charged with attempted murder for the shooting of Martinez’s girlfriend, who survived.Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (831) 755-3722.
The last time an inmate escaped the County Jail was nearly five years ago when 24-year-old Freddy Swanson climbed up a ventilation duct in a bathroom on Christmas Day 2014. He was found and arrested inside a Seaside Home Depot store in January 2015.
