New details: How Lubbock inmate escaped, stole Upton Co. truck

Note: The video above reflects top headlines from morning of April 15, 2024.

LUBBOCK, Texas — Court documents obtained by EverythingLubbock.com on Monday morning revealed new details about how an inmate, Benjamin Soliz, 36, escaped in Lubbock County and stole an Upton County Sheriff’s Office truck.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Soliz was signed out of the Lubbock County Detention Center on April 11 to face a bench warrant in Rankin, Texas. On the way back to Lubbock, court records said Soliz told the driver, a detention officer, that he was sick from the jail food in Upton County and needed to pull over.

Court records said the officer pulled over to let him throw up and heard noises but never saw any “actual vomit” come from Soliz. According to court documents, the officer said Soliz was full restrained when he was placed back into his seat. As the officer was making his way back to the driver’s door, court records said he heard the door lock and Soliz was in the driver’s seat.

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Soliz drove off in the pickup truck “at a high rate of speed,” court documents stated. The affidavit said the truck was found crashed at the intersection of County Road 2830 and County Road 7700. Soliz was not at the scene, court records said, but all of his restraints were found in the truck.

Not too long after the escape and crash, authorities heard reports of a theft of a Can-am near the 4400 block of East County Road 7640. The homeowner captured the incident with security cameras that showed Soliz stealing the vehicle. Court records stated Soliz had changed out of his LCDC inmate uniform and was wearing a white shirt and white shorts.

The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office said Soliz was later arrested in the 6700 block of Cedar Avenue at 9:18 p.m. that same evening. He was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Escaping While Arrested/Confined. Thomas Soliz was also arrested and charged with Hindering Apprehension, along with unrelated warrants.

As of Monday, Benjamin Soliz remained at LCDC on bonds totaling $312,500.