HOUSTON -- 11 News has uncovered more disturbing details on the escapee who managed to dupe prison officials for over a decade. An incident report filed last year said Arcade Comeaux Jr manipulated the lock on his cell door, got out and assaulted a prison guard, according to officials.
These acts were committed by an inmate who the prison system regarded as paralyzed. Comeaux faked his paralysis until he escaped to freedom after smuggling a gun out of the prison, hijacking a prison van and walking away.
Comeaux overpowered prison guards in Conroe November 30 while being transported to another unit. Comeaux left the wheelchair behind when he escaped. He was captured a week later in Houston after a citizen recognized him and alerted police to his whereabouts. He was arrested without incident.
Many details began to emerge about Comeaux’s medical condition and escape. Many wanted to know how he was able to fool prison officials for so long.
In prison surveillance video obtained by 11 News, Comeaux was seen rising from his wheelchair without assistance and readjusting his pillows. He turned off a light in an apparent attempt to hide what he was doing.
The lies he told about needing the chair to get around may be used to raise doubts about his story that prison employees helped him escape.
Local activist Quanell X said Comeaux claims he bribed TDCJ employees with drug money. Comeaux told the activist the employees smuggled a handgun into the Estelle Unit for him, which he was later able to use to commandeer the prison van.
Comeaux, a repeat offender who has been in and out of the Texas prison system for 30 years, is currently serving three life sentences for sexually assaulting a child and for stabbing his former wife and another man during a 1999 visit at a Houston-area prison.
Comeaux has been cooperating with investigators since his capture. On Wednesday, he led investigators to a wooded lot off West Little York and Wayside, where he dumped the shotgun and ammo he took from the guards.
Comeaux is now being held in the Montgomery County Jail. He now faces more charges of aggravated kidnapping and felony escape.
