Jail escapee caught after four years of freedom
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The suspect, Filberto Torres, 30, is in the custody of California authorities and faces unrelated criminal charges in that state. Local authorities have placed a hold on Torres and plan to start extradition proceedings against the escapee once California is through with him.
Torres has been on the run since he escaped in March 2000. At the time of his escape, Torres was awaiting trial on cocaine trafficking charges along with his girlfriend, Herlinda Ramirez.
The couple was arrested at their Bethany Road home in late 1999 after lawmen found 96 grams of cocaine and thousands of dollars in alleged drug money. Much of the illegal substance was found in a stuffed animal lawmen believe was sent to Torres from California. Investigators believe Torres was a high-level drug dealer who imported cocaine from California for sale on the streets of McMinnville. He had reportedly made a drug sale to an undercover operative prior to the raid on his home.
Torres’ run from the law began when he escaped the local jail. Lawmen believe Torres slipped inside an unlocked boiler room as he and other inmates were being led back into the jail from the exercise yard. Torres then reportedly scaled a fence and made his way to freedom, leaving his girlfriend behind. Ramirez subsequently served one year of an eight-year sentence for her part in the drug dealing operation.
Given the fact Torres hailed from Mexico, authorities were not confident he would resurface even though a nationwide alert was released for his capture. The alert ended up being the key as California authorities discovered Torres’ wanted status while doing a check on him following his recent arrest there.
Along with facing cocaine trafficking charges here, Torres will also have to answer to a felony escape count once he is returned to Warren County.