Manhunt concludes after inmate escaped from Indio Jail, accused of stealing $140K cash

Police said Saturday evening their search has ended for an inmate who escaped from the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio. The man was arrested Friday for stealing $140,000 from an armored car in Indio.

A Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. spokeswoman said 35-year-old Angel Felipe Aleman escaped just before 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Residents on high alert after an inmate escaped from the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

“It concerns me. I am not like in fear," said David Gonzalez, an Indio resident. "Yes it does concern me, we are not ignoring it.” 

A heavy police presence circling the perimeter outside the jail and a helicopter carrying the search out from above too.

“It is an eye opener," said Raul Arreola. "It's alarming.” 

Aleman was located at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday night and is back in custody.

He was arrested Friday around 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a McDonald's on Highway 111. He's accused of stealing $140,000 in a bank deposit bag from an armed car.

Aleman was later found outside a home on Palomino Ct. doing yard work. Investigators said he didn't have any connection to the home, and he didn't have the deposit bag with him at the time.

While searching Aleman's route, detectives found the deposit bag hidden under a box in a shallow hole. It was still sealed and unopened.

Police said he was last seen in a trailer park at Oasis St. and Dr. Carreon Blvd wearing an orange jumpsuit. Indio police also assisted in the search.

“He looks scary...like keep your distance he might be armed," said Arreola. "Just that mugshot opens my eyes.”

Some residents in Indio said they were being warned by police to stay indoors and lock their doors. One resident wasting no time in taking action.

“We looked around the house to make sure no one shouldn’t be here," said Gonzalez. "We have a shed, we looked in the shed, we locked it but it concerns that someone is out there now for over three hours."

Stay with News Channel 3 on this developing story.