Man who fled custody in handcuffs pleads guilty to four felony charges

EL CAJON (CNS) – A robbery suspect captured near Petco Park 19 hours after he allegedly escaped in handcuffs from a processing area at the San Diego Central Jail pleaded not guilty Thursday to four felony charges.

Angelo Paschall, 21, was arrested Monday afternoon on suspicion of stealing from a Burlington Coat Factory store in the 7900 block of El Cajon Boulevard in La Mesa, then fighting with a security guard who tried to stop him. Due to Paschall’s alleged violence, he was arrested on a felony robbery charge instead of misdemeanor shoplifting.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 175-pound defendant allegedly broke away from officers in the garage of the detention center in downtown San Diego and fled through an automated vehicle gate as it was closing.

He was spotted in the East Village about 10 a.m. Tuesday, SDPD Officer Matt Tortorella said. When the officers approached, the suspect bolted, running west for about 10 blocks and passing through the ballpark before they caught up to him and took him into custody, he said.

At the time of his capture at Park Boulevard and Tony Gwynn Drive, the suspect was no longer in handcuffs, La Mesa police Lt. Matt Nicholass said. It was unclear when and how he had removed the restraints, or where he had spent his time on the lam.

He was charged with robbery, burglary, resisting an officer and escaping while confined for a felony, without force.

El Cajon Superior Court Judge Evan Kirvin set bail at $200,000 and scheduled a readiness conference for May 2. Paschall faces three years, eight months behind bars if convicted.