Sam Amico
Where’s the first place you go after escaping from jail? Well, how about to get some pancakes?
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Actually, IHOP may not have been the first place that two inmates went after sneaking out of a jail in Newport News, Virginia, but IHOP is where they were caught.
John M. Garza, 37, and Arley V. Nemo, 43, are the inmates in question, and get this — they used a toothbrush to sand their way out of a cell. It was actually a toothbrush and piece of metal in what the Newport News Sheriff’s office described as “primitive-made tools.”
Whatever it was really worked, because the two men were able to cut a tunnel into a brick wall. That’s no joke — especially not when you’re basically using little beyond a toothbrush and some serious elbow grease.
So credit where credit is due.
Toothbrushes Can Go a Long Way
Anyway, Garza and Nemo were caught hours after they escaped, at the IHOP, in Hampton, Va., after Newport News authorities alerted police agencies across the state.
“It reinforces what we always say ‘see something, say something,'” Newport News Sheriff Gabe Morgan said in a statement.
Apparently, someone saw something that resembled two escaped jailbirds eating scrambled eggs and hash browns. Or maybe it was chicken and waffles. Either way, there’s no word on if they got to finish their meal.
“Garza, who lives in Hampton, had been in custody on several charges including contempt of court, probation violations, and failure to appear.” the Newport News Sheriff’s Office relayed in its statement. “Nemo, a Gloucester resident, was being held on numerous charges including credit card fraud, credit card larceny, forgery, possession of burglary tools, grand larceny, contempt of court, and probation violation.”
Charges related to the escape are pending. Let’s just hope the server at IHOP got a tip for all of this.
