Administrators at the San Juan County Alternative Sentencing DWI Facility identified a breach that allowed a detainee to escape July 5 from the facility.
“We have identified the likely location of the escape,” said Jennifer Mitchelle, administrator of the county’s Alternative Sentencing Division, in a report to the San Juan County Commission. “The examination revealed a security breach in the perimeter which has since been rectified.”
Mataius Oros, 20, of Farmington became the first individual in 31 years to escape from the facility, located at 1006 North Municipal Drive in Farmington.
Oros reportedly asked to use the restroom about 2 p.m. during church services at the facility, according to a news release from San Juan County.
He then allegedly “climbed the side of the building where a rain gutter is next to the fence attached to the building, climbed over the barbed wire fence and ran from the facility,” according to the affidavit for arrest warrant.
“Our internal review identified operational practices that may have contributed to the incident,” Mitchell said, adding she is “following up with the involved staff.”
She also began the process of reviewing policies, practices and reinforcing our procedures going forward,” Mitchell told the county commission.
Oros was charged with one felony and eight misdemeanors prior to the escape, and he had been arrested and released at least three times before being placed in the DWI Treatment facility.
Oros was arrested May 1 in connection to a robbery, in which it is alleged he jumped and beat up a man in the 1100 block of Bowen Drive, according to court records.
He was released into pretrial services and was arrested four days later on May 5 after allegedly stealing $14 in items from the Speedway at 2700 West Main St. and driving away while drunk, according to court records.
Oros was released and then, on June 16, he was arrested again on charges of attempted breaking and entering, attempted unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and concealing identity at a home on County Road 3320 in Aztec, court records state.
Oros still faces three pretrial hearings in Magistrate Court for his charges.
He remains at large, and the authorities are attempting to locate him.
Oros is described as being a Native American man with a mustache. He is 6 feet tall and 165 pounds.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call non-emergency dispatch at (505) 334-6622.