Cesar Sanchez, Escaped Inmate, Found By Police In Illinois Port-A-Potty (VIDEO)

An inmate who jumped from a moving van while being taken back to prison Friday afternoon was found by police six hours after making his bold escape -- in an Illinois port-a-potty.

Cesar Sanchez, 37, was on his way to the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Ill. following a court appearance when he somehow jumped from the prisoner transport van in southwest suburban Lockport, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Illinois Department of Corrections spokeswoman Sharyn Elman told the Chicago Tribune that authorities were investigating whether Sanchez, who was handcuffed and in a prison jumpsuit, kicked open the van door before jumping out.

After making his escape, Sanchez reportedly hitched a ride on a delivery truck to Rockdale, near Joliet, NBC Chicago reports. He was ultimately tracked to Waste Management facility in the area which contained several hundred portable toilets.

"As you can imagine, looking through 300 port-a-potties was going to be quite a job," Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas told NBC Chicago.

Police did not have to open every door, however. Authorities used "infrared, heat-sensing technology attached to a helicopter" and dogs to narrow the search, the Sun-Times reports. They found the inmate inside one of the portable toilets about 8:15 p.m.

“He was in the doo-doo,” Kaupas told CBS Chicago.

Sanchez is serving a 7-year-sentence for burglary. His previous convictions include shoplifting, robbery, aggravated battery, motor vehicle theft and unlawful use of a credit card