Robbery Suspect Who Fled Hospital Turns Himself In
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PERRIS — A Riverside County man wanted in connection with a string of armed robberies surrendered to authorities Thursday a month after he walked out of a Mission Viejo hospital despite repeated requests by doctors to have him arrested.
The escape of 24-year-old Anthony Garcia of Sun City had outraged doctors and hospital administrators, who charged that the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department failed to arrest him because it did not want to be saddled with his $37,964 hospital bill.
Hobbling on crutches, Garcia turned himself over to sheriff’s detectives.
On Nov. 13, Garcia, still sporting a patient’s robe, walked out of Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center on crutches, got into a friend’s waiting truck and took off.
Sheriff’s officials have repeatedly denied that they were responsible for the getaway, but acknowledged that a series of mix-ups led to Garcia’s being allowed to go free.
Sheriff’s detectives said Garcia was wanted in connection with a weeklong crime spree in October, during which he allegedly robbed two convenience stores, stole two vehicles and threatened to kill at least two people.
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