SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Authorities asked the public Tuesday to keep an eye out for an inmate who escaped from a medium-security prison in Otay Mesa over the weekend.
Corrections officers discovered Demetrius B. Robertson was missing from Facility Eight, a lockup facility next to George Bailey Detention Facility on Alta Road, during a head count Sunday evening, according to sheriff's officials.
Robertson was discovered missing around 7 p.m., he was last seen by jail staff around 2 p.m. It wasn't until the evening count at 7 p.m., that they realized he was gone
Both prisons were placed on lockdown, and deputies searched for the 24-year-old inmate by ground and air through the night with help from U.S. Border Patrol agents.
A checkpoint also was set up to search vehicles being driven out of the area, and the San Diego County Fugitive Task Force was mobilized to search areas Robertson has been known to frequent, including Chollas View, Chula Vista and College Grove.
Robertson, who also has gone by the last name Roberson, was arrested in May on a parole violation. He is a 5-foot-9-inch, roughly 195-pound black man with black hair and brown eyes. Prior to his escape, he was wearing a black sweat shirt and a baseball cap.
Robertson was previously arrested in 2013 for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. ADW was dropped in a plea agreement where he pleaded guilty to armed robbery and was sentenced to 465 days in jail (not prison). Court records show he stole personal property from a taxi driver.
He was still on probation for that case when he was re-arrested in May. This time he was charged with 11 counts in an identity theft investigation.
Court records show he signed a plea agreement last month where he would plead guilty to "use personal identifying information of another" (basically identity theft) and the other 10 charges would get dropped. He was going to be sentenced to 3 years, 8 months in state prison at a court appearance on September 26, but that is now on hold.
Because of the escape his guilty plea still stands, but he will serve more time on that case.
The DA's office already filed a new charge of felony escape against him, which exposes him to an additional 16 months in prison. This means his total exposure for the May case and the escape charge is now 7 years, 8 months.
He is not a known gang member.
When he left the facility he was wearing a jail-issued blue uniform. At some point he changed into the civilian clothing described in the release. Deputies are not saying how they know this or where this happened.
K-9s found a trail, but it went cold again wouldn't say where.
Officials asked anyone who spots Robertson to avoid approaching him and call 911. Information about his possible whereabouts also may be provided to San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.