The inmate, Melton Medina-Tuiruburiates, was secured into custody Tuesday afternoon, 12:25 p.m. in an area off of FM 69 after being located by the search dogs. Officials reported that the man was being checked by EMS before being transported back to the jail.
Hopkins County officials were searching for an escaped inmate who reportedly walked away from work detail on Monday, April 18 around 10:30 a.m. that morning.
As of 6 p.m. Monday evening, deputies were still searching a location Northeast of I-30 and Loop 301 in a rural area. Law enforcement believes that the inmate is still in the area based on reported sightings.
The Hopkins County Sheriff ’s Office shared another update Tuesday morning stating that late Monday morning, a DPS helicopter and TDCJ K9 search teams were deployed. The K9 units were utilized again Tuesday morning to search the heavily wooded area.
Melton Medina-Tuiruburiates was working at the Sulphur Springs Waste Water Treatment Plant that morning when he reportedly walked away, according to the Hopkins County Sheriff ’s Office press release.
Medina-Tuirburiates was last seen wearing a green t-shirt, jeans, brown work boots and a dark blue hooded jacket the Trusty work program uniform for Hopkins County inmates.
Medina-Tuirburiates had reportedly been in custody since March 2022 for violation of probation on a controlled substance charge.
Medina-Tuirburiates is described as being 49 years of age, of Mexico descent, has tattoos on his right arm, is 5 foot 11 inches and weighs around 160 pounds.
Jail records indicate that in addition to his March 2022 arrest, Medina has also been booked in on other offenses in 2008, 2009, and 2012.
In March 2008, Medina-Tuiruburiates spent a night in jail after being charged with a driving while intoxicated with an open container and driving without a license.
In January 2009, he served 25 days after being charged with driving while intoxicated second offense, bail jumping and failure to appear, having an open container and two minor traffic offenses.
In August 2012, Medina-Tuiruburiates spent a night in jail after being booked on two traffic charges for no driver’s license and failure to maintain financial responsibility.
March 27, 2021, Medina-Tuiruburiates was booked on a felony theft charge after a Hopkins County investigator spotted him on camera stealing from Bright Star Antiques. Upon arriving in the area, officers reportedly located Media walking east on the railroad tracks behind Winburn Milk.
The investigator informed Medina that he had been observed on video taking more than the rooster and was taken into custody. After a search of the area, the stolen property was recovered.
Medina-Tuiruburiates was released from the county jail May 11, 2021 with bond being set at $100,000 on the theft charge and a second bond of $50,000 due to a charge of possession of a penalty group one controlled substance.
Most recently, Medina-Tuirubiates returned to Hopkins County Jail on March 21, 2022, for violation of probation on a controlled substance charge.
All available law enforcement responded to the area of the Waste Water Treatment Plant to assist in the search for the inmate.
The sheriff ’s office requested search dogs to the area around 11:30 a.m. Monday to assist local authorities in searching the area for the escaped inmate. An aerial search was also launched with reports of the inmate possibly being spotted near LVT Trucking and Hammonds Mobile Homes.