Texas Man Who Stole Prison Van With Fake Vomit Sentenced to 9 Years
A Lubbock man was sentenced to prison after he plead guilty to escaping custody and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
According to Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Benjamin Soliz, 36, was not only charged with the previously mentioned crimes, but a stalking charge was the cherry on top of his legal woes.
Rackin' Up the Felonies
Soliz's legal woes began in February of this year when he was arrested for stalking his ex-girlfriend. She had called police in response to a series of threatening messages left by Soliz in addition to him driving past her home multiple times in order to intimidate and harass her.
Then, in April, Soliz was in transport to Lubbock County while in custody. At this time, he asked the officer, who was the driver, to pull over so he could vomit on the side of the road.
The officer did not observe any vomit left by Soliz, but proceeded to have Solis enter the vehicle and re-secure him in regulation restraints.
In an interesting sleight of hand, the officer reported that when he closed the back doors and walked to the front seat--he found that Solis had somehow spirited his way up to the front of the car.
Soliz then did the ultimate magic trick and somehow did the following things--all before the officer walked the two steps to the front door:
- Unbuckled and removed his restraints
- Jumped into the front driver's seat
- Locked the doors and started the car
Soliz then rapidly accelerated away in an escape.
Some time later, the abandoned police vehicle was found not far from the location of Soliz's escape. Police approached the escapee's father and brother who stated they would alert officers if they saw Soliz. Which, they did not.
Soliz and his brother were later caught driving a truck to a hotel to hide from authorities. The two surrendered and Soliz placed back in custody.
Benjamin Soliz was sentenced to a total of nine years in TDCJ for all three charges, including his joyride in the cruiser. All three sentences will run concurrently.
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