Bedsheet Escapee Back Behind Bars

Police promised to pay “real close attention” to a parolee recaptured Sunday, three days after his daring escape from the downtown Hall of Justice using a rope made of bedsheets.

Ahmad Shelton, 26, of Moreno Valley was found in a partially burned shed near the Los Angeles River in an area known as Frogtown. In a call to The Times shortly after the escape, a man claiming to be Shelton said he had rappelled 14 stories on a rope made of about 60 sheets.

Police responding to an anonymous tip arrested Shelton at 6:10 p.m. He did not resist. Shelton had burns on his legs that he said had been caused by the slide down the sheets, Los Angeles Police Lt. Paul Mock said.

Shelton had been awaiting trial on robbery and drug charges when he escaped from the kitchen of the Hall of Justice jail, operated by the Sheriff’s Department. The caller to The Times said the jail “is a maximum-security place, you know, and I want everyone to know how easy it was.”

On Sunday, Shelton was taken to the Police Department’s jail at Parker Center. “We’ll pay real close attention to him,” said Lt. Dan Walliser. He added: “Since we don’t have windows, there’s no place to climb down from.”