Crime & Safety

Jail Escapees Found New Year's Eve

The two women fled, were spotted, and hauled back to jail New Year's Eve.

Bay City News

 

Santa Cruz County correctional officers quickly apprehended two
inmates who attempted to escape from a minimum-security women's jail on New Year's Eve, sheriff's officials said.

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Melissa Bica, 19, and Domenika Galpren, 25, were spotted by an
officer who saw them fleeing from the Blaine Street Women's Facility at 144 Blaine St. around 7:50 p.m. Monday, according to the sheriff's office.      

Bica and Galpren had climbed the security fence and were walking
away from the jail when they were spotted, the sheriff's office said.

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Officers searched for the inmates for a few minutes and
apprehended them a few blocks away at the 76 gas station at 805 Ocean St., sheriff's officials said.

Both were cooperative and were arrested without incident,
according to the sheriff's office. They were brought to the main jail
facility at 259 Water St.

Bica was in custody on drug and stolen property charges, and was
awaiting placement into a treatment program. Galpren was at the jail serving time for an auto theft conviction.

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