The Shortstack Redemption: Two inmates spark manhunt after digging tunnel using toothbrush – before being busted at IHOP nine hours later

• Arley V. Nemo, 43, and John M. Garza, 37, busted out of jail using a toothbrush 
• The two Hampton, Virginia inmates were reported missing on Monday night 
• A hole was found near their jail cell hours before they were detained at IHOP 

Two escaped prison inmates clearly had one thing on their minds when they used tools made from a toothbrush to burrow out of a Virginia jail – pancakes. 

Fugitives Arley V. Nemo, 43, and John M. Garza, 37, were discovered at Hampton IHOP at 4.20am on Tuesday morning nine hours after they were reported missing from the Newport News Jail Annex during a headcount Monday at 7pm. 

The preliminary finding showed the inmates had found a ‘design weakness’ in the jail’s architecture and used ‘primitive-made tools’ created from a metal object and toothbrush to break their way out before scaling the prison perimeter wall, according to the Newport News Sheriff’s Office.

The two were able to make their way through the prison wall and found ‘untied rebars’ they later utilized to successfully flee, making it 6.6 miles to the pancake house before they were captured. 

It is not clear what part of the prison the pair escaped from. A photo released by the Newport News Sheriffs department – which appears to have been taken from the outside of the jail – shows the pair broke through at least two layers of the wall to create a man-sized hole. 

The two were able to make their way through the wall and found ‘untied rebars’ they later utilized to successfully flee. Pictured: the hole at Newport News Jail Annex

Arley V. Nemo, 43, and John M. Garza, 37, were reported missing from the Newport News Jail Annex during a headcount Monday at 7pm. Pictured: Arley Nemo

The preliminary finding showed the inmates found a ‘design weakness’ in the jail’s architecture and used ‘primitive-made tools’ created from a metal object and toothbrush to break their way out. Pictured: John Garza

The DailyMail.com asked the Newport News Sheriff’s Office where inside the jail the prisoners had escaped from, how long they had been incarcerated before escaping, who reported them at the IHOP and why and how they could possibly have made it so far without detection.

‘Many of your questions are part of our investigation, so we are unable to answer them until that is complete,’ they responded. 

Having broken free from the jail it would have taken the prisoners two hours and 15 minutes to get to the Hampton IHOP one city over on foot, according to Google Maps.  

Nemo and Garza haven’t been formally charged for escaping the facility but officials are working to ensure it never happens again. 

‘I extend my gratitude to the Newport News Police Department, the Hampton Police Department, and the James City County Police Department for their assistance in our attempt to recapture these inmates,’ Sheriff Gabe Morgan said. 

‘Moreover, I’m thankful for the citizens who observed Garza and Nemo at the IHOP and notified law enforcement. 

‘It reinforces what we always say “see something, say something.”‘ 

Newport News Jail is an urban facility with a tall brick wall topped with barbed wire at the back. The front of the jail faces onto 26th street and has a narrow alleyway to one side, running between the front and the back of the building. 

It is unclear how long the two have been in prison, but officers said Gaza is a Hampton resident, who was arrested for probation violations, contempt of court and failure to appear. 

Meanwhile, Nemo, who is from Gloucester, was in prison for several charges, such as credit card fraud, larceny, forgery, contempt of court, possession of burglary tools, grand larceny and probation violation.

Nemo and Garza then made their way to a Hampton IHOP (above) and were reported by patrons shortly after. Police arrested the inmates early Tuesday morning

Nemo and Garza haven’t been formally charged for escaping the facility and officials are working to ensure it never happens again. Pictured: Newport News Jail

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