Inmate Escapes from Medical Clinic

32-year-old Thanousone Volarat is charged with shipping marijuana from Fresno to Connecticut, Texas and Massachusetts.

He was due in court on March 11th. But he escaped when he was taken to a medical clinic.

Thanousone Volarat, a federal prisoner, being held at the FresnoCounty jail, was brought to this medical clinic for treatment Monday morning.

He was handcuffed and in shackles.

He asked to use the restroom.

“He went to the restroom, he was able to unlock the rear door of the restroom and escaped to a waiting car,” said Sgt. Gregg Collins with the Fresno Sheriff’s Department.

Volarat was seen getting into a red Honda. A woman was driving.

U-S Marshals have been called in to take over the search.

It's at least the third time in the past nine months an inmate has escaped or tried to escape in Fresno when they were taken for medical treatment and said they needed to use the restroom.

In June, career burglar John Ramirez was taken to CommunityRegionalMedicalCenter. He said he didn't feel well. When he went to use the bathroom, he attacked the correctional officer who was guarding him. Two hospital employees, a patient, and a police officer stepped in to stop Ramirez.

And in September, Robert Lee Davis escaped from the hospital after he was taken in for treatment.

He too asked to use the bathroom, was unshackled, and then bolted out of the restroom and through the emergency room. He was found hours later hiding in a home nearby.