Escaped Inmate Eludes Capture At Gilroy Hotel

GILROY (CBS SF) -- An escaped Santa Clara County inmate remained at large Monday after he checked out of a Gilroy hotel just hours before authorities surrounded it.

Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies had set up surveillance at the Days Inn at 8292 Murray Ave after several callers reported seeing 33-year-old Rogelio Chavez there over the weekend.

Chavez escaped from the main jail in San Jose on Wednesday night along with 26-year-old Laron Campbell. Authorities believe the pair split up after the escape. Two other inmates involved in the jailbreak were quickly apprehended.

Deputies responded to the hotel at around 11:15 p.m. and found a room that may have been associated with Chavez, but stopped the search at the hotel when they didn't find him there.

Police took multiple people into custody for questioning. It was not clear if they are linked to the case.

All four inmates used bed sheets and clothes to lower themselves from a second-floor cell window on Wednesday, sheriff's deputies said.

The men had cut through the window bars, but investigators didn't find any cutting tools in the cell or the surrounding area.

Surveillance video showed Campbell and Chavez outside a perimeter of officers around the jail.

Federal law enforcement personnel have joined local agencies in the search for the two fugitives.

Chavez was booked into the jail on Aug. 17 on charges including burglary, extortion, false imprisonment, resisting arrest and firearms violations, deputies said.

Chavez is Hispanic, stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 190 pounds. He has a distinctive facial tattoo below and above his left eye.

Campbell was booked into the jail on Feb. 12, 2015 on charges including robbery, false imprisonment, criminal threats and firearms deputies, according to deputies. He is black, stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds.

Chavez and Campbell are considered dangerous, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Rich Glennon said. Anyone who sees either fugitive should use extreme caution and call 911.

Anyone with information on this case has been asked to call Santa Clara County sheriff's investigators at (408) 808-4500 or the office's anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431.