Stories From The Clink: Amarillo Area’s Craziest Jail Escapes

Arrests are pretty common in the Panhandle area, but every once in a while inmates find and take the opportunity to escape. Here's a short list of some of these strange instances of criminals who fought the law, but did not win.

Jeffery Dean Strange

On Wednesday, Oct. 11th, 2023, a man by the name of Jeffrey Dean Strange escaped Carson County Detention Center, prompting authorities to start a manhunt in pursuit of the inmate. His intent or direction was unknown, but according to some sources he has connections to Fritch. However, it did not take long for authorities to find and recapture Strange having been found in the nearby area.

This was not his first encounter with authorities, having been arrested and booked into jail back in 2020 off of controlled substances charges.

Benjamin Jr. Barrera

On September 12, 2023, Potter County officials captured Benjamin Jr. Barrera, 22, who had escaped custody in downtown Amarillo. Barrera had fled while waiting for his transfer to the Potter County Jail from the Santa Fe building. After a brief search by APD, he was found in a garage hiding behind a water heater and was taken back into custody at the Potter County Detention Center.

David Myrie

In 2007, an incident occurred where an Amarillo inmate, David Anthony Myrie, managed to escape from the Randall County Jail on a Tuesday night. Myrie was being held for federal charges related to illegal re-entry into the United States. However, he was swiftly apprehended by APD and was taken back into custody after he was discovered hiding in an alley in downtown Amarillo.

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