Chula Vista

Two of seven escapees from the crowded County Jail in Chula Vista have been recaptured, the Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday.

The prisoners, among 123 in Module 3A, designed for 24 inmates, broke out of the South Bay jail Tuesday by covering their clothed bodies with hand lotion and squeezing through a 6-inch window opening. Using tied-together bed sheets, they then shinnied down 80 feet to flee, spokesman Jerry Snow said.

Jail officials were notified that the inmates had escaped when they received calls at 6:27 p.m. from parents who said their children playing near the complex on South 2nd Avenue saw inmates wearing blue uniforms. A lockdown was ordered a minute later, spokeswoman Lorraine Truitt said.

Deputies from the jail along with Chula Vista police searched the area by car and saw the fugitives, Truitt said.

Jose S. Urquieta, 34, and Antonio L. Gonzalez, 22, both serving time for auto theft were captured that night and taken back to the jail, Truitt said.

The remaining five have not been captured, Truitt said Wednesday evening.

Prison officials blamed the escape on the crowding and understaffing. The jail, intended for 192 prisoners, houses 882.

Still at large late Wednesday were Manuel A. Canpasco, 30, serving time for possession of narcotics; Porfilio Cruz, 24, held for parole violation; Gerardo Cortez, 22, awaiting trial on charges of possession of stolen property; George Fernandez, 20, held on burglary charges and violation of probation, and Martin C. Wiggins, 25, held without bail on parole violation and two counts of burglary.