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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, May 2, 2003

Women escapees captured

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Padilla


Takata
Two women who escaped Monday from the O'ahu Community Correctional Center are back behind bars. One surrendered to state public safety officers yesterday and the other was caught several hours later by public safety officers.

Michelle Rene Padilla, 27, surrendered at 5:50 a.m. at a Nu'uanu convenience store near North School Street, said James Propotnick, acting public safety director. Kimberly Takata, 33, who escaped with Padilla, was captured at 9:35 a.m. in the Ross store at 711 Ke'eaumoku St.

Eight sheriff's deputies assigned to the fugitive task force, two state attorney general investigators and two state narcotics officers had been tracking the escapees.

Propotnick said they received a tip about Takata that sent a team to the Ke'eaumoku district, where she and her boyfriend were spotted and arrested in the parking structure.

"Our people got on their tail, and they didn't know we were following them," he added.

The boyfriend is being investigated in connection with a first-degree hindering charge, Propotnick said.

Donald Wong, the attorney general's chief investigator, said officials contacted Padilla Wednesday by cellular phone and negotiated her surrender.

The two will be taken to the maximum security unit at the Women's Community Correctional Center.

Meanwhile, four women who state public safety officials said helped Padilla and Takata escape by staging a disturbance that distracted guards were sent Wednesday to WCCC.

OCCC Warden Francis Sequeira said the transfer to the women's prison was a disciplinary action.

Padilla and Takata slipped out of an OCCC holding area.