Jail escapee falls through ceiling, lands in police custody
An escapee from a Santa Clara County jail was captured by U.S. Marshals on Tuesday evening when his attic-space hiding place collapsed and sent him crashing to the floor as authorities searched his sister’s home, according to officials.
Although Laron Campbell, 26, was taken into custody nearly a week after he sawed his way out of jail, a second escapee remains at large.
U.S. Marshals had been observing Campbell’s sister’s house when the fugitive fell through the ceiling and was taken into custody, according to Santa Clara County Undersheriff Carl Neusel.
Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Neusel told reporters that Campbell’s sister, Marcaysha Alexander, 24, also was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of harboring a fugitive.
A tip led law enforcement to the area where Campbell was hiding, and authorities obtained a warrant to search the home, Neusel said.
Law enforcement officers are continuing to search for another escapee, Rogelio Chavez, 33.
Campbell and Chavez, along with two other inmates, broke out of Santa Clara County Main Jail North on the night of Nov. 23. The group had cut through bars covering a second-story window and rappelled to freedom using bedsheets and clothing. The other two prisoners were captured quickly, while a manhunt was launched for Campbell and Chavez.
A woman was arrested earlier this week in connection with Chavez’s escape.
Campbell and Chavez were being held on charges of burglary, extortion, false imprisonment and other crimes, and both face possible life sentences if convicted. Chavez had been in jail since August and Campbell since early 2015.
On Wednesday, Neusel said authorities were “narrowing the locations” where Chavez might be.
Although the circumstances of the escape are still being investigated, preliminary findings revealed that jail staff committed “no significant policy violations,” Neusel said.
He noted that the jail is aging, very noisy and occasionally leaky. Neusel said deputies are “eagerly” awaiting the construction of a new facility approved by the county Board of Supervisors.
Cameras that would have recorded the men’s escape are also on the horizon, he said.
The jail has been under intense scrutiny since the death of Michael Tyree, a mentally ill inmate who was found dead in his cell last year. Three deputies were arrested in connection with his death.
For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.
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