Members of several law enforcement agencies were on the look out for escaped inmate Rafael Ortega, in the north part of Kingsville. Ortega, 18, fled from custody in the morning while being transferred to the courthouse. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu) There is a collective sigh of relief around the Kleberg County Law Enforcement Center now that Rafael Ortega, 18, is back in the county jail.

Ortega, who escaped law enforcement authorities Monday morning while being transported with other prisoners to routine pre-trial hearings at the Kleberg County Courthouse, prompted a massive manhunt and lockdowns at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and schools in Kingsville and Bishop.

Ortega, who was charged with aggravated robbery in connection with a May 9 attempted robbery of the Donut Palace where owner Kim Hong Pich was shot in the abdomen, was captured late Tuesday afternoon as he was entering an abandoned house on West Avenue C and North Fifth Street.

A helicopter flew most of the day on Monday scouting the city for fugitive inmate Rafael Ortega, 18, who escaped from custody while being taken to the courthouse. (Photo by Gloria Bigger Cantu). Fugitive never While the delay in Ortega’s recapture prompted speculation that he fled Kingsville, local law enforcement agencies knew better.

According to several law enforcement sources, a stakout was established in the area where law enforcement believed Ortega had family.

“He had established a pattern of visiting certain locations around the area so we were able to set up around the perimeters based on the information we had received from the general public and crime stoppers,” said Chief Deputy Juan Gonzalez.

“He was in the process of climbing into an abandoned building when we apprehended him and he gave no struggle — he was in perfect health,” he said.

Rafael Ortega “This capture was a combined effort of an overwhelming amount of agencies such as the Kleberg County Sheriff’s office and Deputy’s, the Kingsville Police Department, Texas Criminal Justice Dept., Border Patrol, DPS, Constables, Texas Rangers, U.S. Marshals, Kenedy County Officers, Task Force, Bishop Police Dept., DEA Agents, the IRS, and the DPS Halo.”

He was apprehended when he was dropped off by what law enforcement officials are claiming was an unknown vehicle. Ortega was in regular clothing at the time of his capture, wearing jeans and a white t-shirt, but he was barefoot.

Ortega, escaped from custody at the Kleberg County Courthouse around 8:10 a.m. Monday.

According to officials, Ortega was a the courthouse for an 8:30 a.m. pretrial hearing when he escaped on foot as he was being transferred from a van from the Kleberg County Jail.

According to Chief Deputy Gonzalez, Ortega, who was described as 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds, was handcuffed and shackled and wearing a jail-issued orange uniform and orange clogs.

He managed to shed the handcuffs and shackles, which were later recovered by police in an abandoned building a few blocks away from the courthouse.

The fugitive was seen running in north direction.

The Kleberg County Sheriff’s Department, Kingsville Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol and other state and federal agents began searching the area around the courthouse and around East Nettie and Ave A. for Ortega after a reported sighting.

The law enforcement teams searched by helicopter, horseback, on foot, and in vehicles for 12 hours Monday into the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Bloodhounds were also brought in to aid in the each.

As officers and bloodhounds were dispatched in search of Ortega, who was believed to live on the west side of the city near Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the campus was put on lockdown from 11:15 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.

Alerts were sent to faculty and students through the universities e-mail and telephone alert system.

Students and staff had to remain on campus until notice was received of an all clear.

Once students were released, the university canceled classes for the rest of the day, but normal working hours continued for faculty and staff.

All Kingsville ISD schools were also put on lockdown Monday for the afternoon as a precaution.

No one was allowed to enter or leave the district’s nine campuses.

Students were released at the scheduled time but the sheriff’s office asked parents to limit their children’s outdoor activity.

The manhunt resumed early Tuesday morning with a helicopter, dogs, horses, and authorities on foot looking under buildings, houses, and in trash cans on and around East Lott Ave. after a reported sighting.

KISD was not on lockdown Tuesday, but was on heightened awareness, and TAMUK resumed regularly scheduled classes.

After being notified by Bishop Police Chief Larry Lawrence of a reported spotting of Ortega hitchhiking near Bishop, Bishop ISD schools were put on lockdown Tuesday morning as a precaution.

After scanning the area in the morning and finding nothing, the search was called off in the early afternoon with Bishop ISD ending its lockdown at 2:30 p.m.

Ortega was taken to the Kleberg County Jail where he will face a third degree felony of escape in addition to his other charges.