Okla. Co. Escaped Inmate Steals Tortilla Truck, Leads Police On Chase Before Being Caught

An Oklahoma County inmate made his getaway in a tortilla truck. After managing to give jailers the slip Wednesday morning, police tracked him down in a stolen van.

According to police, the van was left running in the parking lot of Chelino's Tortilla Factory when Jesus Rubio found it.

“As soon as he walked outside the van was gone,” said Chelino’s supervisor Guadalupe Garcia,    

A Chelino's employee had just finished loading the van with about $4,000 in tortillas when he went back inside for more.

Left unattended, video surveillance shows a man, later identified as escaped inmate Jesus Rubio, walk into frame.

After a failed attempt to flag down a driver he's seen looking over his shoulder before lurking around the van.

“You can see in the video where the escaped inmate peeks into the van and makes sure no one is there and just drives off,” said Garcia.            

Seconds after Rubio made his getaway, a confused employee realizes what has happened.

Police were notified, and the connection was made.

“The flag was raised like hey this man is around here, he just took this van,” said Garcia.

Hot on Rubio's trail officers tracked him down within minutes at Southwest 35th Street.

Cellphone video captured the van speeding by, and police close behind.

“A lot of commotion I guess you could say, he was just driving up and down Western,” said Garcia.               

In dramatic fashion, police put the van out of commission.

“Police had thrown spike strips on the road and the suspect was avoiding them and hopping over curbs and driving over different lanes,” said Garcia. 

The police chase finally came to an end with Rubio back in custody.

“Honestly it's a blessing that this person stole our van, although it is a loss, who knows what the other outcome would have been,” said Garcia.              

Rubio was being transferred to the Department of Corrections to serve a prison sentence for domestic assault when he ran off.

Related: Okla. Co. Inmate Arrested After Escape, Chase In OKC