Feb 12, 2006 12:13 pm US/Central
Six Inmates Escape Cook County Jail
Second Breakout This Weekend At Maximum Security Jail
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Two Cook County Jail inmates, David Earnest and Arnold Joyner, were captured this morning in Oak Park, CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports.
The two men were part of group of six inmates that had been on the loose after overpowering guards at the maximum security prison. Earnest and Joyner were found near Ridgeland Common Ice Rink at 415 W. Lake St.
This is the second breakout in as many days at the maximum security jail. An inmate who escaped through a laundry truck led police on a 25-hour manhunt that came to an end Saturday.
There are 9,000 inmates in the facility at 26th and California, and officials say they need 700 more guards to protect and watch them adequately. Some guards towers are not manned.
And that problem is directly related to the early morning escape, officials say. From the air and ground, hundreds off officers are taking part in a dragnet.
The men escaped by overpowering two to three guards and snatching keys. They had to open several sets of doors before freeing themselves.
The inmates didn't take any weapons from guards, but it's believed they were armed with a homemade knife.
Escapees include Tyrone Everhart, 28, who is awaiting trial for aggravated kidnapping; Joyner, 42, who tried to escape last month. He was arrested on theft and attempt to escape; Michael McIntosh, 30, who was arrested for aggravated battery with possession of a firearm; Erin Bernard, 22, who was arrested for armed robbery; Francisco Romero, 23, who has been in jail for 4½ years and is awaiting trial for murder; Earnest, 38, who is awaiting trial for aggravated murder.
All men are deemed to be extremely dangerous.
A spokesman for the sheriff's department said inmates are on lockdown 23 hours a day. They have one hour of recreation.
He described how the inmates escaped.
A seventh inmate was taking a shower. When he was approached by a guard, he threw hot water in the guard's face and produced a shank. He was able to overpower the guard and lead him to a control center, where he was able to spring the latches on six jail cells. That enabled the other six inmates to get out. One of those inmates then started a fire with a mattress.
The seventh inmate who sparked the breakout put on the uniform of the guard he was holding at bay with a shank. When another guard smelled and saw the smoke from the mattress, this inmate was on the other side of the door. He saw the inmate and opened the door, which led the other six inmates to run out.
That initial inmate was subdued by guards. The other six inmates took keys from another guard and opened doors, making their way outside. They had to scale a barb-wire fence.
Officers continue to pursue leads by car and foot, led by K-9 units.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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