Escaped inmate found hiding in backyard Jacuzzi in L.A.

LOMITA, Calif. -- An inmate who jumped a fence and fled the Lomita Sheriff's Station Sunday afternoon was later found hiding in a backyard Jacuzzi, CBS Los Angeles reported.

Arturo Valenzuela, originally in custody for burglary, had been working in the station's back parking lot around 2:30 p.m. when he "decided he no longer wanted to be incarcerated with us and took off over the west wall," sheriff's Sgt. Paul Creason said.

The 23-year-old fled from the 26000 block of Narbonne Avenue wearing a yellow jumpsuit and a blue jacket.

A jailer reportedly saw it happen and notified deputies, who set up a perimeter on Lucille Avenue and Cypress Street, south of Pacific Coast Highway.

A helicopter and K-9 unit were also brought in to search the area.

Around 5 p.m., deputies tracked down Valenzuela to a home in the 25900 block of Cypress Street in Lomita. Creason says he was hiding in a Jacuzzi filled with only a little bit of water.

Valenzuela again was placed under arrest. He had sustained an ankle injury during the ordeal and was taken to a hospital.

He had been working at the Sheriff's station under minimum security as part of a program that employs inmates who meet certain criteria.

In addition to his initial burglary charge, Valenzuela was later booked for escape and is being held on $100,000 bail.