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DOC investigates brief escape of Michigan City inmate

Stan Maddux Times Correspondent

MICHIGAN CITY — The Indiana Department of Correction is trying to determine how a prisoner freed himself from the chains around his ankles to run during a brief escape.

Also under review is whether security measures for transporting offenders need tightening.

"We take the opportunity to retrain and reemphasize procedures to make sure to the greatest extent possible something like that doesn't happen again," said Doug Garrison, a DOC spokesman.

Josue Martinez was brought to the courthouse Friday in Michigan City from the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Sullivan County for a pretrial conference on charges involving allegations that he stabbed an inmate with a homemade spear at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.

He was serving two 20-year sentences for aggravated battery and armed robbery out of Marion County at the Michigan City prison when the attack occurred in December 2014, Garrison said.

According to police, a correctional officer was opening the door on a transport van so Martinez could be escorted into courthouse when Martinez bolted out without the shackles around his ankles.

Garrison said both of Martinez's wrists were still chained together as he took off running in his prison-issued orange jump suit.

Police were scouring the area when they spotted Martinez a few blocks away hiding behind some bushes in the city's Uptown Arts District in the 400 block of Franklin Street.

Martinez's bid for freedom lasted for about 30 minutes, Garrison said.

Apparently, Martinez was trying to pick the lock on his handcuffs judging by a piece of wire found in the keyhole after his capture, he said.

Also discovered were four metal wires with the ends flattened and bent in the shape of a key, authorities said.

Garrison said how Martinez obtained the wire and if wire was used to open the lock on his leg restraints has not been determined.

"It's actually still under investigation as to how he got some of the chains off," said Garrison, who added once the investigation is complete the DOC will be pursuing a charge of escape against Martinez.

The level 5 felony could add another one to six years to Martinez's sentence.

According to court documents, the victim of the prison attack was lying down when someone called his name and when he opened the curtains draped over his cell he deflected a homemade spear away from his stomach.

He lost two pints of blood from the laceration he suffered to his hand.

The spear was made from a sharp object being fastened to a mop handle, according to court documents.

A jury trial on charges of possession of a dangerous device and battery, each level 5 felonies, is scheduled July 19.