Escape raises questions; County officials launch inquiry

(From The Signal) How did two men escape Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic this week? And why were they allowed the freedom and trust to work together in the jail’s kitchen that may have allowed them to escape? That type of work is a privilege usually reserved for inmates accused of nonviolent crimes, but Winder Estuardo Barrios and Jose Antonio Aldana were on trial for a string of armed robberies, a home invasion and a sexual battery.

And why weren’t the two jailed separately since the two illegal immigrants were both accused of committing violent crimes together?

Those are some of the questions Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and sheriff’s officials are asking in the wake of Wednesday’s jail break in Castaic. The two men were found and arrested after 14 hours on the run.

Read more here: Escape raises questions; County officials launch inquiry