In a surprising turn of events, a 20-year-old inmate named John Nino escaped custody at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for the second time in three months. Surveillance footage reveals that Nino managed to remove his wrist restraints before making a break for it—heading toward Highway 99.
The incident took place just before 8 PM on Tuesday, August 12th, during his transport through the airport. Reports indicate he fled across the light rail tracks and was last seen wearing a red coat along with dark gray or black sweatpants.
John Nino’s escape was particularly dramatic, and he even returned to Kentucky after fleeing the airport. Following the breakout, authorities issued a warning to the public: “If you see Nino, don’t come near him. Call 911.” Nino stands at 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 154 pounds. He had been under community supervision due to a second robbery conviction in Thurston County. A warrant for his arrest was issued in June when he missed a mandatory meeting with his community amendment officer.
Just days before his escape, Nino had been arrested in New Mexico and returned to custody in Washington. Interestingly, this incident is not isolated—another inmate, Cedric T. Stevenson, had previously escaped from Sea-TAC while being transported to Kentucky in a case not being handled by the Washington Department of Corrections. Stevenson had, back in May, sprinted through the terminal and onto the light rail, evading capture for over a month.
Now, with both incidents noted by local news outlets as significant, officials indicate that both local law enforcement and DOC officers are involved in searching for Nino. However, it remains uncertain if Sound Transit Security is assisting in the effort. Despite an immediate search around the light rail station on Tuesday night, Nino has not yet been apprehended.
Currently, the focus is on tracking him down, but it’s unclear if any changes to the transport protocol have been implemented. According to DOC officials, a “critical incident review” is planned to assess how Nino managed to escape in the first place.
