Prisoner Flees While Working

A state prisoner doing janitorial work at Eastern State Hospital at Medical Lake broke into a woman’s locker Monday, stole her keys and escaped in a 1994 blue Chevrolet Astro van.

Alberto Lopez-Ramirez, 21, was serving time at the Airway Heights Corrections Center for conspiring to deliver drugs in Pierce County, Wash., officials said.

He is one of 250 offenders in the minimum security wing who often leave the prison to perform government contract work, prison spokesman Cly Evans said.

Lopez-Ramirez is not classified as violent, and Evans said he suspects the felon may be headed back to the Tacoma area. He was sent to Airway Heights in March 1999 and was expected to be released next March.

Lopez-Ramirez remained at large Monday evening.

Lopez-Ramirez made his dash for freedom about 9:20 a.m. He had been working as a janitor at the hospital’s therapy pool, Evans said.

After breaking into the locker, the prisoner was able to take the car key and match it to a vehicle in the parking area.

The woman’s children, who were being cared for at home, were moved to another location due to concerns about their safety because Lopez-Ramirez also had house keys, Evans said.

Lopez-Ramirez is 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 146 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. He also goes by the alias Antonio Conde-Rodriguez, prison officials said.

In July, the Airway Heights prison had to deal with another escape from its minimum security wing.

Michael H. Peters scaled the prison fence and then called friends in the Tacoma area, asking for help. The heavily tattooed convict has not been found.