Charges : 5 FEL ESCAPE A man believed to be Michael Maldonado is seen escaping while being dropped off at the Porter County Jail. The video was captured by a surveillance camera at the jail and the video was provided by the Porter County Sheriff's Department. VALPARAISO — When 25-year-old Michael Maldonado fled after arriving at the Porter County Jail on March 26, he hopped into an unlocked car at a nearby business that had the keys inside and drove off, according to police. That move added to his woes, as Maldonado now faces an additional felony charge of auto theft, according to court records. Maldonado was scheduled to make an initial court appearance on that new charge Thursday morning via a videoconferencing system between the jail and courtroom of Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford. The case is then expected to be transferred to Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffery Clymer where Maldonado's other charges are pending, according to the courts. Maldonado is accused of fleeing from a Portage police car at 11:15 a.m. March 26 after it pulled into the enclosed sally port at the jail that is used to drop off those in custody. Police said he jumped from the passenger to driver seat and dashed under the garage door as it was closing. Police said he drove away in a 2013 Ford Focus taken from the nearby Pratt Industries. Police said Maldonado twice attempted to flee from them an hour earlier after being stopped along U.S. 20 in Portage and arrested after a glass crack pipe and hypodermic needle fell from his clothing during a search. Maldonado was placed in a hobble restraint, according to police. The officer said he noticed a buckle on the restraint was no longer secure while on the way to the jail, but he did not tighten it because it appeared to still be holding Maldonado's hands and feet together. Maldonado was caught the following night by the Burns Harbor Police Department during a traffic stop on Old Porter Road and South Babcock Road, according to police. He reportedly attempted to flee again from police, but was apprehended in a nearby wooded area after a foot chase. A felony escape charge was filed against Maldonado, in addition to felony counts of unlawful possession of a syringe and resisting law enforcement, according to court records. Maldonado also faces misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement and possession of paraphernalia, and a citation for driving with a suspended license. Portage police further responded by initiating a review of what went wrong. The aim of the investigation is not discipline, but in making the necessary changes to avoid further problems, Portage Assistant Police Chief Ted Uzelac has said. "We continually review our operations so we can find new and better ways of doing things," he said. The officers were prevented from immediately pursuing Maldonado by the closed garage door and a delay in opening another outside door.