Manhunt for 2 inmates who escaped from Calif. minimum security jail
"Both men are now facing felony charges of escape from a county detention facility and face a potential state prison sentence," a sheriff's spokesman said
By George Kelly
East Bay Times
CLAYTON, Calif. — Two men held as inmates at a county jail facility managed to escape early Sunday, and had yet to be found despite a community alert and a ground search, authorities said.
According to a statement Sunday night, the inmates' escaped was discovered around 11:20 a.m., and deputies carried out an emergency head-count and site search while notifying nearby law enforcement. Hours later, a ground search yielded no sign of the men within a few miles' perimeter of the prison, described by the sheriff's office as a minimum-security site meant for sentenced criminals convicted of lower-level crimes.
Shortly before 3:30 p.m., the Contra Costa County Sheriff's office issued a community warning system alert asking for residents in the county's Marsh Creek Springs area to be on the lookout for the inmates, who left the Marsh Creek Detention Facility, 12000 Marsh Creek Rd.
In the sheriff's statement, one man, identified as Gerardo Ramirez-Vera, 33, of Richmond, was described as about 5 foot 6 and 140 pounds with long black hair and brown eyes. Ramirez-Vera had been sentenced on burglary, vandalism and weapons charges, and had been due for release in the first week of next January.
The other man, identified as Jorge Garcia-Escamilla, 28, of Pittsburg, had been held on drug possession, possession of a stolen vehicle and burglary tools, and vehicle theft, and was due for a court appearance within three weeks.
"Both men are now facing felony charges of escape from a county detention facility and face a potential state prison sentence," a sheriff's spokesman said.
Residents who saw the men were advised to avoid contact and call the county sheriff at 925-646-2441.
