Inmate Bound For Green Bay Escapes At Chicago Airport

CHICAGO, IL —An inmate being transported from California to Wisconsin escaped custody just after 1 p.m. Tuesday at O'Hare airport in Chicago, authorities said.

Tyler James Martinez, 31, remained at large after he escaped while he was being transferred from the Los Angeles County Jail to the Brown County Jail in Green Bay by REDI Transports.

Surveillance footage showed Martinez had gotten free of at least one of his handcuffs and got on a car rental shuttle bus, NBC Chicago reported.

Martinez is a suspect in multiple storage unit thefts in Wisconsin, and has warrants for drug offenses, bail jumping, property damage, WBAY reported. According to NBC, he also had a warrant for possession of an electronic weapon.

Martinez and an officer from REDI Transports flew from Los Angeles to Chicago and were waiting for a connecting flight to Appleton when he escaped, police said.

When the officer turned away to get food for Martinez, the inmate ran away, the Brown County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The officer couldn't find Martinez, who was handcuffed but not wearing a jail jumpsuit, and contacted Chicago police.

Police were unable to find Martinez.

Authorities said he was wearing a light gray sweatshirt, dark sweatpants and dark tennis shoes. Police do not believe he has a weapon. Martinez is described as 6-foot-2 with brown hair and green eyes, weighing between 185 and 200 pounds.

The sheriff's office has suspended use of REDI Transports.

Anyone who knows where Martinez is should call Sgt. Marc Shield at 920-448-4404.