Pair accused of aiding brazen escape from Silicon Valley courthouse

Authorities have arrested two people accused of helping a pair of armed robbery suspects escape from a Palo Alto courthouse earlier this week, but the fugitives remain at large.

Marquita Kirk and Rene Hunt were booked on suspicion of conspiracy in connection with the Monday morning breakout of Tramel McClough, 46, and John Bivins, 47, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

McClough and Bivins were appearing in court Monday on charges related to a February robbery when they ran away from a deputy who was escorting them through the Palo Alto courthouse, investigators have said. The two men burst through an emergency exit and raced to a waiting getaway vehicle.

They exited the getaway vehicle a few blocks away and jumped into a U-Haul van, according to police, who said they recovered a handcuff key and discarded restraints at the scene.

Kirk, a 44-year-old Sunnyvale resident who was arrested early Tuesday morning, is accused of renting the U-Haul van , according to a news release issued by the sheriff’s office. Hunt, 54, of East Palo Alto, was arrested around 7 p.m. Tuesday night, said Sgt. Rich Glennon, a sheriff’s department spokesman.

Hunt is a known associate of one of the fugitives and “was responsible for arranging the vehicle” they used to escape the courthouse, Glennon said.

Investigators did not know if Kirk or Hunt was at the courthouse Monday, or whether either of them acted as the getaway driver, Glennon said. There were no other updates on the search Wednesday.

McClough and Bivins were arrested on Feb. 3 after police say they tied up employees inside a cellphone store at gunpoint and stole nearly $64,000 worth of merchandise. They were charged with robbery and false imprisonment, according to the sheriff’s department.

Earlier this week, Palo Alto police said they believed the suspects fled the city. Law enforcement officials believe the suspects are armed and dangerous, and have asked anyone who sees them to immediately call 911.

“The level of sophistication and brazenness it takes for the individuals to do that — that is why we’re calling on the public and other allied agencies to help,” Santa Clara Sheriff’s Sgt. Reggie Cooks told reporters Monday.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.

UPDATES:

12:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the arrests of Kirk and Hunt.

This article was originally published at 8:25 a.m.