March 02--A jail inmate was found hiding in a hot tub Sunday in the backyard of a Lomita home.
The inmate, a "trustee" worker at the L.A. County sheriff's station in Lomita, allegedly walked off the job and, eventually, into a Jacuzzi at the house in the 25900 block of Cypress Street.
Arturo Valenzuela's escape at about 2:40 p.m. Sunday through the station's parking lot sparked an hours-long search that extended into surrounding neighborhoods, deputies said.
Finally, their search led them to a Jacuzzi somewhat filled with water, KTLA reported.
Valenzuela was arrested and taken to a hospital for an ankle injury that he suffered during the apparent escape attempt, deputies said.
He was booked on suspicion of escape and was being held on $100,000 bail, deputies said.
