A young criminal detainee was found and taken back into custody shortly after he escaped from the Santa Clara County Boys Ranch in northeast Morgan Hill over the weekend, according to authorities.
The 17-year-old inmate, Anthony Ruezga of San Jose, escaped from the facility on the 19000 block of Malaguerra Avenue about 9:15 p.m. July 18, according to a press release from Morgan Hill police. Authorities provided the teen’s description and asked residents in the area to keep an eye out and report any sightings to police.
The following morning, July 19, police reported that Ruezga had been found and taken back into custody. MHPD Sgt. Carson Thomas said Ruezga was found on the Boys Ranch property, and he apparently had not left the facility grounds while his presence was unaccounted for.
Police also reported that five inmates of the Boys Ranch attempted to escape in the same incident, but Ruezga was the only one who was successful.
The inmates tried to escape by staging a “disturbance” on the ranch property, according to Thomas. The inmates tried to flee while the staff was distracted, and all the attempted escapees except Ruezga were were captured “immediately.”
The escape attempt and disturbance did not result in any injuries to the facility’s staff, Thomas said. Some of the inmates had to be medically cleared after the incident, but no serious injuries were reported.
Ruezga had been incarcerated for his involvement in property crimes, and did not have a violent background, authorities said.
