Two inmates from the town of Newport News, Virginia, escaped from prison by digging a tunnel with a modified toothbrush, city authorities announced Tuesday.
The prisoners were released for just nine hours, since shortly after they were arrested at an IHOP (International House of Pancakes) franchise restaurant, specializing in breakfasts, the local Sheriff’s Office explained in a statement.
According to the letter, the two men, who have been jailed since last year for minor crimes, took advantage of a flaw in the structure to dig the tunnel.
The authorities did not give more details about the failure since, they say, it is in various places in the prison and now they must secure the structure.
A team of city engineers is already working on ways to mitigate the weakness, the Sheriff’s Office said.
“I am grateful to the citizens who saw Garza and Nemo (the inmates) at IHOP and notified authorities,” local sheriff Gabe Morgan said in the statement.
No charges relating to his escape have yet been announced.
