Prank Sparks Folsom Prison Lockdown

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By Sacramento Bee

Published: 05/19/2003

Apparently inspired by the MTV reality show 'Jackass,' two Loomis, Calif., teenagers recently pulled a prank that led to the lockdown of Folsom Prison and likely left the boys feeling more sheepish than boastful.
On April 27, one of the boys put on an orange jail jumpsuit he bought at a flea market, snapped on a pair of handcuffs and ran along a rural road while his friend videotaped him.
The stunt backfired when the 'escapee' was pursued by citizens, and law enforcement agencies sent out patrol cars, tracking dogs and a helicopter to look for him.
Folsom Prison officials ordered a full-scale lockdown and conducted a head count to make sure the person seen on King Road wasn't one of their inmates. Jails in Placer and Sacramento counties also checked their inmates.
With authorities on their trail, the frightened 15-year-olds ditched the jumpsuit, returned home, erased their videotape and confessed to one of their fathers, who called the Placer County Sheriff's Office.
The teens weren't taken into custody, but they were cited for obstructing or resisting a peace officer -- a charge stemming from their denying involvement when they were stopped in a field during the search, sheriff's Detective Jim Hudson said.
The case will be reviewed for possible prosecution by the district attorney or the county probation department, which also considers juvenile matters.
In addition, the boys and their families may have to reimburse law enforcement agencies and Folsom Prison for the costs involved in the search and lockdown.
'It's probably at least $5,000,' Hudson said. 'A lot of that comes from Folsom Prison having a lockdown. And the use of the helicopter probably accounts for about $1,000.'
Hudson said the boys 'wanted to be on film doing a 'Jackass'-type of a stunt.'
'But every action has a reaction -- and law enforcement isn't always going to give you the reaction you want,' he said.
'Jackass' is an MTV show that features videos of actors performing daredevil stunts, pranks and other outrageous, and often juvenile, behavior.
The prank by the Loomis boys constituted no breaking of the law, said Hudson, the detective.
The jail-style outfit was purchased at Denio's auction in Roseville. Although frowned upon by law enforcement, the sale of such an item is not illegal, sheriff's officials said.
'And as much havoc as they caused in running out on the street in a jail outfit, there was no identifiable law that was broken,' Hudson said. '
The boys put the prank into operation about noon, Hudson said.
'The boy in the jail outfit ran from a wooded area in front of a car,' he said. 'The woman driver immediately got on her cell phone and called authorities.'
Another citizen tried to tackle the 'escapee,' but the boy broke free, Hudson said.
Fifteen uniformed personnel responded to the call, including sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol and Rocklin police officers.
A CHP helicopter flew overhead, and two law enforcement agencies brought in dogs to pick up the subject's scent. The search lasted more than an hour before the father of one of the boys contacted the sheriff's office to say that the two had confessed.

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