An inmate who escaped from county jail was found in Lake Forest on Thursday night and taken back into custody, Sheriff’s Department officials said.

William Scott Woodin was arrested after a brief foot pursuit near Vintage Park, a little more than 24 hours after authorities say he broke a window in a jail kitchen and escaped from Theo Lacy jail in Orange.

A one-time Newport Beach resident, Woodin, 39, was arrested by Irvine officers Oct. 23 after authorities say he tried to steal a watch from a Nordstrom store.

According to court records, Woodin pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of petty theft and giving a false name to police.

Since he was not convicted of a violent crime, Woodin was assigned to a work detail in the jail’s kitchen, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities believe he broke a window in the jail’s kitchen sometime between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The window was reportedly at floor level and was partially obscured by a bench when it was discovered by a cook.

Using bloodhounds, investigators initially tracked Woodin to Garden Grove, where the dogs lost his scent.

Amormino said investigators were following a lead when they saw him in the 27100 block of Valleymont Road in Lake Forest about 8 p.m. Thursday.

“We have to credit good, old-fashioned detective work,” Amormino said.

Woodin attempted to evade capture, Amormino said, but was taken into custody and will be returned to jail.

The incident is believed to be the first escape from the Lacy jail in 20 years.

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