Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― A midnight breakout from the Cook County Jail sparked a manhunt for six dangerous fugitives Sunday and raised questions about a shortage of guards at the 10,000-inmate jail.

Armed with only a homemade knife and some hot water, the inmates overpowered guards and escaped from a special unit for the most incorrigible inmates.

Two of the men were apprehended roughly six hours later in a nearby suburb, and a third was captured late Sunday on the city's South Side. Authorities said murder charges are pending against one of the three men who remained at large.

The escape was the second jail break since Friday and third since June. No inmates had escaped from the jail in the previous 10 years.

Authorities are also trying to determine how a handgun used to shoot three inmates on Feb. 1 was smuggled into the maximum security wing of the jail.

"The last 10 days, as far as I'm concerned, makes me sick," said Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan. "What we're trying to do right now is capture these people."

The escape began when an inmate threw hot and soapy water from a shower on the guard and then held him at bay with a homemade knife. The inmate then handcuffed the guard and put on his uniform, officials said.

Sheahan said the guard should not have been alone with the inmate. "One person by himself, shouldn't have been in there by himself," said Sheahan.

The inmate then opened the electronic jail cell doors to let six other inmates out. One of the six set a mattress on fire to attract the attention of another guard. Once the guard arrived, the inmates overpowered him and took his keys to unlock the doors to a parking lot.

"He took his keys, we don't know if there was complicity. We have to talk to guards, inmates and then we'll determine," Sheahan said.

The inmate wearing the guard's uniform immediately was caught, but six managed to make it through the parking lot, over a shorter barbed wire fence and out onto the streets.

Around 6 a.m. Sunday, an Oak Park police dispatcher saw two men wearing tan pants, the color of Cook County Jail uniforms. The two men were spotted near Ridgeland Common Ice Rink at 415 W. Lake St.

Officer Dawn Carver chased and caught Arnold Joyner, 43, who was awaiting trial for theft and trying to escape the jail last month.

"He did not resist, he quit running. I told him to put his hands up, and he put his hands up," Carver said.

Another Oak Park officer caught David Earnest, 38, charged with murder.

Police caught a third escapee, Michael McIntosh, 30, in the 10600 block of S Aberdeen at 8:15 p.m. Sunday. McIntosh of Chicago is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm.

Authorities identified the escapees who were still on the lam Sunday as Franciso Romero, 23, of Chicago, charged with murder; Eric Bernard, 22, of Chicago; charged with armed robbery; and Tyrone Everhart, 28, of Markham, who is charged with aggravated kidnapping and attempted escape from the Markham courthouse, Sheahan said.

All men are deemed to be extremely dangerous.

"They're people that have a history of fighting, assault and a history of violent crime," Sheahan said.

This is the second breakout in as many days at the facility. An inmate who escaped through a laundry truck led police on a 25-hour manhunt that came to an end Saturday.

Cook County Jail sometimes has 11,000 people, Sheahan said. About 700 more guards are needed to protect and watch the inmates adequately.

Those with information are encouraged to contact authorities at 773-869-6403.

(© 2006 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)