SUMMARY:
• A fugitive wanted for escaping a community corrections facility has been taken back into custody.
• Authorities discovered the suspect, Travis Vigil, hiding in an attic crawl space.
• The arrest occurred after a brief search of a residence where Vigil was reportedly sleeping when officers arrived.
MONTROSE, Colorado — Law enforcement officials in Western Colorado say a man’s attempt to evade the justice system ended not with a high-speed chase, but with a quiet discovery in a ceiling. What began as a search for an escaped convict concluded when officers climbed into an attic to find their suspect fast asleep.
The Montrose Police Department, working alongside local task forces, had been tracking Travis Vigil after he allegedly walked away from a community corrections program. Vigil, who has a history of run-ins with the law, was considered a high priority for local investigators.
Acting on a tip regarding his whereabouts, officers converged on a residential property. After clearing the main living areas, the search moved upward. Police say they eventually located a concealed crawl space in the attic. Upon entering the cramped quarters, they found Vigil. According to investigators, the fugitive was not actively resisting or attempting a further escape at that moment; instead, he was asleep.
The capture marks the end of a multi-day search that had local residents on edge. Vigil was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Montrose County Jail. He now faces additional charges related to his escape, on top of the original sentences he was serving.
While the circumstances of the arrest may seem unusual, officials are emphasizing the importance of getting fugitives off the streets regardless of how they are found. This case serves as a reminder that for those attempting to bypass the legal system, there are few places left to hide—even in the rafters. Vigil is expected to appear before a judge later this week to face his new escape charges.
