New charge as prisoner escapes; turns himself in

The Stratford man who escaped police custody in Bridgeport only to turn himself in later appeared in court Friday on a new charge related to the disappearance. Police say Nelson Vega, 29, had a history

News 12 Staff

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Oct 24, 2015, 2:07 AM

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Updated 3,369 days ago

The Stratford man who escaped police custody in Bridgeport only to turn himself in later appeared in court Friday on a new charge related to the disappearance.

Police say Nelson Vega, 29, had a history of prior burglary arrests when he was taken into custody once more on similar charges.

"He had two choices," says Bridgeport Police Chief Joe Gaudett. "Turn himself in, or we would bring him in ourselves."

News 12 previously reported that the accused burglar escaped from the civilian guards who were transporting him to a court appearance Wednesday.

Sources say that one of the guards loosened Vega's handcuffs after he complained that they were too tight.

Gaudett partially blamed the design of the old police building for aiding Vega's escape, but an investigation into the personnel involved in the incident is underway.