Santa Rita Inmate Walks Out of Jail and Escapes

No problem

​An inmate broke free from Santa Rita jail this week, in what is being dubbed one of the easiest and most low-key prison escapes in recent history.

Alameda County sheriff deputies noticed that 21-year-old Ismael Cesda, also known as Ismael Ramirez, was missing during Tuesday night's head count at about 11 p.m. He was last seen after returning from a Fremont courthouse in the afternoon. He was in jail for stolen vehicle and pursuit charges.

But get this. Cesda somehow got into the area where inmates are released and then reportedly escaped through five locked doors, all of which have to be opened by deputies.

A former inmate tells KGO that it's not easy to just walk out of jail -- there are cameras and "too many buttons need to be pushed" to get out.

"It's very difficult (to leave), you have to go through three doors where they press and unlock them for you. In order for you to get upstairs, they have to press two more of those (buttons) for you to even get out," the former inmate says.

Cesda is about 5-feet 6-inches tall and 140 pounds. He was wearing a gray sweatsuit at the time of his jail break.

It's a real head-scratcher for cops who are asking whether the jail break was a design issue or a human error. Inmates tell KGO that it's puzzling to them as well, considering security there has gotten so tight that it's too hard to deal drugs.

Follow us on Twitter at @SFWeekly and @TheSnitchSF