This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
West Wendover, Nev., police are asking residents of eastern Nevada and western Utah to be on the lookout for a man who escaped their custody despite being handcuffed in the backseat of a squad car.
Abraham Morales, 23, had been arrested early Monday morning on a complaint of disturbing the peace. Officers also suspected he had been drinking, which would be a violation of his parole terms. He was arrested, handcuffed and placed in the back of the squad car — and then the West Wendover officers were called to the scene of a bar fight about 4:20 a.m.
The officers, thinking Morales secured, investigated the fight — only to find moments later that he had somehow freed himself and fled on foot. Morales remained at large Friday.
Morales is described as 6-foot-2, about 160 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes. He goes by the street name of "Trucker," police said.
Anyone with information on Morales or his whereabouts is asked to call the West Wendover Police Department at 775-664-2930. Anonymous tips also can be phoned in to the Secret Witness number, 775-664-3188, or by texting tipacop@westwendovercity.com.