Escape from Reentry Program Sparks Manhunt in San Diego as Armed Offender Walks Away from State Custody

CDCR and Local Authorities Search for Man Who Removed Ankle Monitor and Fled from Transitional Facility

San Diego, June 11, 2025 — A manhunt is underway in San Diego County after a convicted felon walked away from a Male Community Reentry Program (MCRP) facility late Tuesday night. Authorities say 29-year-old Justin Dake, an inmate nearing the end of his prison sentence, tampered with his electronic ankle monitor and fled, prompting an urgent multi-agency search.

Alarm Raised After Ankle Monitor Tampering

The incident occurred around 10:31 p.m. on June 10, when correctional officials were alerted to a signal anomaly from Dake’s ankle monitor. An emergency headcount confirmed his absence from the facility. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and local law enforcement quickly mobilized efforts to locate him.

Dake is described as a white male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 164 pounds, with blue eyes and blond or strawberry blonde hair. Authorities warn he should not be approached by the public.

Criminal History and Inmate Background

Justin Dake was originally committed to CDCR custody from Orange County on May 10, 2017, following a five-year sentence for attempted second-degree murder, which included enhancements for personally using a deadly weapon and causing serious bodily harm.

In a separate in-prison incident, he was sentenced again on August 23, 2018, by Kern County to an additional seven years for assaulting another inmate with force likely to cause great bodily injury, also with enhancements. He is classified as a second striker under California’s repeat offender laws.

The Role of the Reentry Program

The Male Community Reentry Program is designed to ease the transition of eligible inmates into society. This voluntary program allows selected individuals with less than two years remaining on their sentences to serve time in community-based facilities, where they receive assistance in employment training, education, housing support, and behavioral health care.

Participants are supervised but granted increased mobility to prepare for reintegration into society. Dake’s escape marks a rare breach in a program that otherwise boasts a 99% recapture rate for individuals who flee without permission.

Public Asked to Stay Vigilant

Law enforcement is urging the public to report any sightings or information related to Dake’s whereabouts. He may be dangerous due to the violent nature of his past offenses. Citizens are advised not to approach him, but instead call 911 or reach out to Special Agent Guillermo Lopez at 619-666-5523 with any tips.

What’s Next?

Authorities remain confident that the individual will be apprehended soon. Search efforts are focused across San Diego County and neighboring areas, including known locations and possible contacts.

As officials tighten security reviews at the reentry facility, this incident raises questions about monitoring and enforcement protocols in community-based transition programs, even as they remain vital tools in modern corrections reform.

Bottom Line: An armed and previously violent offender is on the loose after escaping a state-run reentry facility. The public is urged to be alert and cooperative as authorities continue their search. With a near-perfect historical apprehension rate, the CDCR says it's only a matter of time before the fugitive is back in custody.