Two California inmates at large after rappelling from jail

Lanon Campbell (L) and Rogelio Chavez (R) escaped from Santa Clara County Jail late Wednesday and remain at large. Two other unidentified inmates were caught immediately after escaping. Photos courtesy Santa County Sheriff's Office

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 24 (UPI) — Four inmates from the Santa Clara County Jail in Northern California escaped by rappelling from a second-story window and two remain at large, authorities reported Thursday.

Two of the inmates who broke out of the jail were caught immediately after 11 p.m. Wednesday but the others haven’t been apprehended, the office said in a release.They cut through the window’s bars in the oldest section of the Main Jail, constructed in the 1950s.

The men escaped using bedclothes and clothing to climb down the side of the building, KNTV TV quoted Sgt. Rich Glennon.

A deputy who was patrolling noticed the clothing hanging from the window.

No cameras were in the part of the jail where the inmates were living.

The sheriff’s office is working with the San Jose Police Department and Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. The county agency is utilizing its helicopter and numerous K-9s.

The escaped inmates were identified as Rogelio Chavez and Lanon Campbell.

Chavez was being held on burglary, extortion, false imprisonment, resisting arrest and firearms violations since Aug. 17. Chavez is a Hispanic male, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 190 pounds with a distinctive facial tattoo above and below his left eye, according to the sheriff’s office.

Campbell was booked into the jail on Feb. 12 and was being held on charges that include robbery, false imprisonment, criminal threats and firearms violations. Campbell was described as an African-American male, 6 feet 4 inches tall and 220 pounds.

Anyone with information on this case is asked contact the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit at (408) 808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431.

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