Alameda County sheriff's deputies late Tuesday night were still trying to catch an escaped inmate who bolted — in handcuffs — while being transported to San Francisco International Airport, and was last seen near Interstate 880 in Hayward.
The inmate, who has been identified as 27-year-old Shawn New, was being extradited to Kentucky for violating probation on a credit card and ID fraud conviction. Authorities were transporting him from Dublin-based Santa Rita Jail to SFO, but he managed to escape from the transport vehicle, Sgt. Ray Kelly said.
The vehicle came to a stop around 9:45 a.m. near A Street and I-880 in Hayward, according to Kelly. New opened the back doors, which were unlocked at the time, and jumped from the car and took off running.
"At some point, the traffic was stopped. Mr. New jumped out of the backseat of the car and ran down the freeway, handcuffed," Kelly said.
Officials say the back doors of the rental car didn't have child safety locks and deputies didn't put leg shackles on New because of the long flight ahead.
People who live near his escape route are scared.
"He could be anywhere," resident Delfino Vasquez said. "He could knock down somebody’s door. ... Maybe a little scared to find someone at your door kicking it in or shoving you in and holding you hostage until this thing clears."
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New was wearing a blue plaid shirt, blue jeans and brown boots at the time of his escape, Kelly said. He has a thin build, stands about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 165 pounds.
Deputies say it's best for residents to keep their doors locked. New is not considered violent, but he should be considered dangerous, Kelly said.
"Right now, the ball has fallen in our court to go recapture this guy," he said.
Anyone who spots New is asked to contact the Alameda County Sheriff's Department.
