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Fugitive back in custody after escaping at Sea-Tac Airport

The fugitive was arrested in Kitsap County on a drug warrant out of Mississippi.

SEATAC, Wash. — A suspect was captured after escaping custody at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Wednesday morning.

According to the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), the suspect, later identified as Bailey Gonzalez, is wanted out of Mississippi on a drug warrant and was in the custody of a private security company when he escaped.

The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office said Gonzalez was arrested in December for auto theft and eluding police. He completed his sentence on March 18. However, he was held on a warrant out of Mississippi. 

The sheriff’s office said Gonzalez waived extradition on March 22 for his Mississippi warrant. He was picked up by the private security company around 2:20 a.m.

As the security company was preparing him for extradition to Mississippi around 4 a.m., Gonzalez managed to escape custody and ran from Sea-Tac Airport on foot, according to Captain Tim Meyer with the King County Sheriff's Office. 

At some point, Gonzalez submerged himself in a pond and slipped out of his handcuffs, according to Meyer.

Gonzalez eventually made his way to a hotel laundry facility where he warmed himself up. At that point, law enforcement began receiving calls from concerned people in the area.

Gonzalez was located hiding beneath a hedge near Angle Lake by KCSO's Air Support Unit using an infrared camera. Law enforcement took Gonzalez back into custody by 9 a.m. 

The King County Sheriff's Office released a video of Guardian One tracking the search:

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