California Inmate Tries to Escape by Clinging to Underside of Bus

CASTAIC, Calif. – An inmate at a California detention center almost escaped after slipping out of his handcuffs and clinging to the undercarriage of a bus that was leaving the facility.

Staff at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Los Angeles, noticed that inmate Gamaliel Martinez was missing Tuesday morning. He had been handcuffed to three other prisoners, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Martinez was found under a department bus, having shed his blue prison uniform, the Los Angeles Times reported.

He is serving three years for robbery at Wasco State Prison, 100 miles (160 kilometers) further north, and was at the detention center to face additional robbery charges.