2 Men Escaped From Jail by Using a Toothbrush, Went Straight to IHOP

2 incarcerated people who were serving time at a jail in Newport News, VA, reportedly used a toothbrush to escape their incarceration — and traveled to an IHOP appox 7 miles away after busting out.

According to a statement from the Newport News Sheriff’s Office (NNSO), John M. Garza, 37, and Arley V. Nemo, 43, were first found to be missing during an evening headcount check on March 20. The office’s investigation concluded that the individuals used “primitive-made tools constructed from a toothbrush and metal object” to “exploit a construction design weakness.”

(And, before you ask, it’s unclear if there was also a Raquel Welch poster in the cell.)

Garza and Nemo then scaled down a wall of the facility and made their way off the property undetected. They were ultimately apprehended hours later at an IHOP in nearby Hampton, VA. Per the NNSO, private civilians reported the men’s presence at the pancake chain to law enforcement.

The 2 men were originally being held on a wide range of charges, ranging from — in Garza’s case — contempt of court, probation violations, and failure to appear, to — in Nemo's case — credit card fraud, credit card larceny, forgery, possession of burglary tools, grand larceny, contempt of court, and probation violation.

A criminal investigation and an internal investigation are ongoing, and the NSSO says it is working “to minimize the chances of such an event happening again.”