SAN JOSE, Calif. – The second escapee from Santa Clara County County Jail, Rogelio Chavez, 33, has been captured after a seven-hour standoff with police. He was one of four inmates to successfully cut through bars, then rappel from the second-story window using clothing and bedding as a make-shift rope. Two were immediately captured outside the facility, but two were able to make their getaway last week.
Chavez was re-arrested Wednesday night at the house of a friend in San Jose said Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith.
Late Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Service and police in Antioch re-arrested 26-year-old Laron Campbell who also made his getaway from jail with Chavez. 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.
Neusel told reporters at a news conference Wednesday, that Campbell’s sister, Marcaysha Alexander, 24, also was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of harboring a fugitive.
The L.A. Times reported detectives were trying to search the home of Karla Fernandez when they noticed someone was hiding in the attic and requested backup from the SWAT team, Smith said.
A SWAT team shot tear gas canisters into the home at least twice earlier in the day.
The sheriff’s department said Chavez was arrested without incident and taken to a hospital since he was suspected of being under the influence of narcotics. Detectives discovered he was in possession of crack cocaine and marijuana, Smith said.
Fernandez, who is on probation, was also arrested and is facing charges of resisting and obstructing an investigation, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and being an accessory to an escaped inmate.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Glennon said they received “numerous tips” that helped them locate Campbell after Sheriff Smith announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the fugitives’ recapture.
Smith indicated there may be more arrests as the investigation continues.
Chavez was awaiting trial on several felony charges, including burglary, extortion, false imprisonment, resisting arrest and firearms violations.
Campbell has been in jail since February 2015 on felony charges that include robbery, false imprisonment and making criminal threats.