Police Capture Last Fugitive From La Reforma Escape

The only fugitive still at large from a group of eight convicts who escaped from La Reforma prison Oct. 9 was arrested Friday in Dominical, on the southern Pacific coast, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

Rafael Angel Herrera, known as “Rafa Loco,” 54, was riding a motorcycle in the Dominical, the statement said. Although he had dyed his hair and changed his appearance, police recognized him.When they approached him, he did not put up any resistance and admitted he was the man they were looking for.

Herrera was arrested and will continue serving a 45-year sentence for various crimes including rape, robbery and assault, the statement said.

All the other fugitives who broke out of La Reforma prison in Alajuela, northwest of San José, Oct. 9 have been captured except for one who was killed by police. Four of the fugitives, Johel Guillermo Araya, Alberto Martínez, Johnny Rodríguez and Freddy García –were found in a house in Guácimo, on the Caribbean slope, Oct. 24. García was killed in a shootout with police.

Another of the fugitives, Robert Clark, was arrested two days earlier at the annual Carnival festivities in the Caribbean port town of Limón (TT, Oct. 27), and escapee Victor Urbina surrendered to police Oct. 26 in Tres Rios, east of San José (TT, Nov. 3).

Most recently, Douglas Quirós, 48, was found Nov. 4 hiding out in Cartago, east of San José (TT, Nov. 10).