He may have gotten as much as a 15-minute head start.

Grapevine police, a 90-member force, quickly mobilized, calling in federal and state law enforcement to aid in the hunt. Bloodhounds were dispatched. They tracked Morales’ scent from the shoe he had left behind.

Freed described the area near the Walmart as industrial buildings and warehouses surrounded by thick woods. The dogs led them to Dragon Stadium at Southlake High School, then to Grapevine High School’s Mustang Stadium, before losing his scent, she said.

For the next few days, police fielded 80 to 100 tips, but all proved fruitless. A white Ford Explorer stolen in the area gave them hope, but also turned out to be a dead end.

Ten Miami-Dade police officers flew in to help with the search.

Meanwhile, Pardiñas was struggling. The wounds had narrowly missed his jugular vein, but he had a collapsed lung and was barely able to speak. His family, including his daughter, flew to Grapevine to be by his side.

Saturday he was released from the hospital.

Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor Genaro “Chip” Iglesias and Miami-Dade PD Deputy Director Juan Perez flew to Dallas on Thursday. They were grilled by local reporters: Why did detectives rent a car after Morales became unhinged on the plane? Why didn’t they ask for local police assistance? Why did they make risky stops?

Transporting a prisoner using a car is a “contingency we have in place,’’ Perez told The Dallas Morning News.

Iglesias said Saturday that a thorough review of Morales’ escape is under way.

“Regardless of what happened, it’s clear he escaped so something went wrong.’’