SWAT Team Searching For 2nd Escaped South Bay Inmate
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- SWAT officers were searching a home in San Jose for a second inmate who escaped a South Bay jail, Wednesday.
Leron Campbell, 26, and Rogelio Chavez, 33, escaped from the Main Jail South facility near West Hedding and North San Pedro streets around 11 p.m. Nov. 23 by cutting through bars to a second-floor window.
The two inmates lowered themselves to the ground with bed sheets and clothes. Two other inmates escaped with Chavez and Campbell, but were quickly apprehended.
Investigators didn't find cutting instruments in the cell or nearby, but found surveillance footage showing the pair outside the perimeter established by deputies, Glennon said.
Campbell was taken into custody Tuesday evening after falling through the ceiling of his sister's home.
Ever since a $20,000 reward was announced, a steady stream of tips and credible sightings have come in, but authorities say Chavez has managed to evade a massive manhunt.
Chavez, of San Jose, remained outstanding as of early Wednesday evening, sheriff's Sgt. Richard Glennon said.
The investigation has led deputies to conduct numerous operations, including one near Coy Park where they have been since about 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Glennon said.
It's not clear if Chavez is inside a home in the neighborhood filled with many multi-family residences, according to Glennon.
Reverse 911 calls have been sent out to area residents alerting them to law enforcement in the area, Glennon said.
Chavez was booked into jail on Aug. 17 for burglary, extortion, false imprisonment, resisting arrest and firearms violations, sheriff's Glennon said.
Chavez is Hispanic, stands about 6 foot 1 inch tall and weighs about 190 pounds. He has a facial tattoo above and below his left eye, according to Glennon.
Campbell, of Palo Alto, was recaptured around 10 p.m. Tuesday when deputies searched the home of his sister,
Marcaysha Alexander, 24, who was arrested on suspicion of harboring a fugitive, Santa Clara County Undersheriff Carl Neusel said at a news conference Wednesday morning at sheriff's headquarters in San Jose.
On Monday, detectives were tipped off that Campbell was in Antioch and determined he was staying with his sister in the 1000 block of James Donlon Avenue, Neusel said.
Detectives notified the U.S. Marshals Service, which conducted surveillance of the residence for several hours and verified Campbell was there, according to Neusel.
They served a warrant with Antioch police at the home, where Campbell was hiding in the attic and fell down from the ceiling to the ground, where he was taken into custody without further incident, according
to Neusel.
Campbell was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose without bail and Alexander was taken to the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, where she remains in lieu of $250,000 bail, according to online
jail records.
Sheriff's deputies are investigating the escape and believe there were no significant policy violations based on their review of multiple documents, Neusel said.
The cutting tools used in the escape haven't been found, the undersheriff said.
Detectives have received a steady stream of tips since Sheriff Laurie Smith announced a $20,000 reward last week for information leading to the capture of both inmates, sheriff's officials said.
It's not clear how the money will be divided up for who gave the tip that resulted in Campbell's arrest, Neusel said.
The tips surrounding Chavez's whereabouts led detectives to a Days Inn at 8292 Murray Ave. in Gilroy on Monday and Inman Way in San Jose on Tuesday, sheriff's Sgt. Richard Glennon said.
As a result of the investigation in Gilroy, Emily Vaca, 35, of San Jose, was arrested for allegedly driving Chavez around the county, Glennon said.
Vaca was arraigned Wednesday afternoon at the South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill on a felony charge of being an accessory to a felony and two allegations related to prior prison time, Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Janet Berry said.
If convicted, the defendant faces five years in jail, according to Berry.
Vaca's bail was set at $70,000 and scheduled to return to court Dec. 9 for a plea hearing, Berry said.
Anyone with information surrounding Chavez's location are asked to call sheriff's investigators at (408) 808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431.
