Local officials around 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 18, were searching the northeast corner of town for an inmate who reportedly walked away from a work detail at the Sulphur Springs Waste Water Treatment Plant this morning, according to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tanner Crump.
The inmate was last seen wearing a green t-shirt and jeans, standard attire for inmates at Hopkins County jail who are designated as trusty has been identified as Melton Medina-Tuirburiates AKA Meo Medina-Tuirubiates, a man in custody since his arrest March 21, 2022, for violating probation on a possession of a controlled substance charge.
The man is describes as a 49-year-old Hispanic male, 5 feet, 11 inches tall, who weighs approximately 160 pounds. He is of medium narrow build, has black hair and brown eyes, with tattoos on his arm.
In addition to Meo Medina-Tuirubiates, the Sulphur Springs man is also reported to be known by Meo Medina Tuirubriates, Melton Medina Martinez, Tuirubiates Meo Medina, Mel, Mello and Carlos.
Prior to his arrest March 27, 2021, the 49-year-old had been jailed in Hopkins County on three other occasions. He spent the night in jail March 1, 2008, for DWI and a traffic charge. He then spent Jan. 18-Feb. 12, 2009, in custody on a second offense DWI warrant, bail jumping and failure to appear, open container, and two traffic charges. He spent another night in jail on Aug. 16, 2012, on two city traffic charges, jail records show.
He was jailed March 27, 2021, on a felony theft charge after being caught on video stealing an antique rooster, antique flower pot and a large stew pot and other items from a Main Street business; he was found walking nearby along the railroad tracks on Main Street behind a milk business, according to sheriff’s office and arrest reports. His bond was revoked on the controlled substance charge. He was released from the county jail May 11, 2021; bond was set at $100,000 on the theft charge and a new bond of $50,000 set on the other charge, according to jail reports.
Medina-Tuirubiates returned to Hopkins County jail on March 21, 2022, for violation of probation on a controlled substance charge. He had been given trusty status and allowed to go on work detail at Sulphur Springs Water Treatment Plan when he reportedly walked off Monday morning, April 18, 2022.
All available local officers had responded to the area to assist in searching for the inmate. The sheriff’s office requested the prison’s search dogs, who had arrived at 11:26 a.m. Monday to assist. Local authorities are scouring the area for the escaped inmate. By 11:35 a.m., an aerial search had also been launched.
Anyone with any information about Medina-Tuirubiates’ whereabouts are asked to please contact HCSO dispatch at 903-885-2768.
