A jail inmate swallowed his key to freedom. During a sweep of the high-security wing of the county jail in Santa Cruz, deputies discovered that Jose Angel Juarez had swallowed a handcuff key and set off the metal detector during a walkthrough screening.
Deputies weren't sure what set off the detector, but they knew the cause was in Juarez's midsection. A 1 1/2-inch handcuff key could be seen in Juarez's belly after deputies ordered him to take an X-ray.
"It's our belief that the inmate would be using this to escape from custody," Lt. Craig Wilson said, adding that authorities don't know where Juarez got the key.
Juarez, 29, is awaiting trial on felony charges of conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, robbery and carjacking, stemming from a Dec. 18, 2003, robbery of Farm Fresh Produce.
His alleged partner in the robbery, Francisco Antonio Alvarado, 25, pleaded guilty in October to robbery, conspiracy, assault and receiving stolen property and was sentenced to 10 years, four months in prison.