An inmate from the Bell County Jail experienced brief freedom Tuesday morning before being recaptured, officials said. Arnold Bonilla, the 27-year-old who had vanished earlier that day, was arrested, as communicated by the Bell County Sheriff's Office. MyTexasDaily reports that the escaped inmate, Bonilla, had been taken into custody by the Temple Police Department on February 16, 2025, on allegations of operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license.
Before the escape, Bonilla had been subjected to a detainer by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and he was being transferred to federal custody, as noted in the FOX 7 Austin coverage. Following his disappearance from the jail located on South Loop 121, he was observed heading south and east.
The arrest of Bonilla concluded a search operated by multiple agencies, including the Belton and Temple police departments, the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol, the Texas Rangers, and constables from Precincts One and Four. Assistance was also sought from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which provided prison dogs to aid in the manhunt.
Although details surrounding the circumstances of Bonilla’s escape are still unclear, authorities emphasized that the man did not have a known history of violence. The public was previously alerted and advised to keep a watchful eye for anyone matching Bonilla's description, he's a Hispanic male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Residents had been instructed to contact law enforcement if they spotted the suspect — who was last seen wearing a red baseball cap, an orange hoodie, and dark camouflaged pants, although he might have changed his clothing.
