As of Saturday evening officers were still looking for José Luis Garza, a wanted man who escaped out of a police cruiser late Friday night in Gladstone after being arrested in a domestic violence case.
Garza is wanted for domestic violence, assault, breaking and entering and felony escape.
Friday night an officer responded to a domestic violence call around midnight at Garza's residence, said Stark County Sheriff Clarence Tuhy.
"Garza was arrested, handcuffed and placed in the police cruiser," Tuhy said. "Garza had asked the officer to retrieve a couple of bags from the residence, so the officer locked the doors of the police cruiser and went back to get the bags. Meanwhile Garza managed to roll down a back window in the squad car and escape.
"Right after he escaped we began receiving reports of garages being broken into," Tuhy said. "We suspect it was Garza searching for a bolt cutter or something similar to get the handcuffs off."
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Tuhy said the Sheriff's office has been looking for him since the incident.
"We put out calls to the media and we used reverse 911 to alert residents within a two mile radius of Gladstone about Garza," Tuhy said.
Area residents who received the call said they were frightened but many added that this is not the first time they have received that type of call.
"A similar situation happened last year, and ever since then we have always locked up at night," said Gladstone resident Ramona Clark.
"I was scared when we got the call," said Jessica Beckman of Gladstone. "You don't think this type of stuff happens in small towns but it does. My husband had to go to work this morning, so we locked the doors and trust the police are doing all that they can to find him."
Officers say Garza is 5 feet 11 inches tall and approximately 210 pounds. He has brown eyes and short black hair, officers said they do not know of any tattoos or piercings he may have.
Garza was last seen in Gladstone in orange sweatshirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes. He may still be wearing hand cuffs and may be in possession of a knife. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.
If you have information about Garza call the Stark County Sherriff's office at 701-456-7610.
