Escapee captured, wanted in Vegas

David Kihara

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005 | 9:53 a.m.

The 34-year-old man who escaped from an Arizona mental hospital Tuesday night is wanted in Las Vegas in connection with a fatal stabbing, authorities said.

The El Mirage Police Department arrested James Edward Bates on Wednesday night around 10 p.m. about 15 miles northwest of Phoenix.

The El Mirage Police Department had received several 911 calls from people who said saw Bates walking and trying hitchhike along along a street in that town, Seltzer said.

Bates is wanted in Las Vegas in connection with the killing of Tony Sanchez, who was stabbed to death in a bar fight on Jan. 10, police said.

Bates has an extensive criminal history in the Las Vegas Valley going back more than 10 years here, according to Metro Police. He has been arrested for burglary, sexual assault, home invasion and weapons possession, Metro said.

He was being held in Arizona on unrelated charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, weapons possession and possession of a stolen vehicle, said Sgt. Andy Hill, spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department.

Bates was detained in the Arizona State Hospital, in Phoenix, at the time of his escape. He was under a psychological evaluation to determine whether he was competent, Hill said.

Bates escaped from the hospital on Tuesday night, Hill said. Bates apparently made his bed to look as if it was occupied and then slipped through a small plexi-glass window, Hill said.

Bates, wearing only boxer shorts, then scaled three fences, including two that were between 10 and 14 feet and had razor wire, Hill said.