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Santa Clara Co. sheriff searching for inmates

Santa Clara County sheriff’s officials said deputies concluded their search Thursday morning around the main jail in San Jose for two inmates who escaped Wednesday night and are still at-large.

As of 1:30 p.m. today, law enforcement officers were still looking for 33-year-old San Jose man Rogelio Chavez and 26-year-old Palo Alto man Laron Campbell.

Two other inmates escaped shortly before 11:08 p.m., but were apprehended quickly. All four used bed sheets and clothes to lower themselves from a second floor cell window, sheriff’s officials said.

The inmates cut through the bars on the window, though investigators did not find any cutting tools in the cell or in the surrounding area in their investigation.

The search continues through leads and tips from the public, but surveillance video showed that Campbell and Chavez made it outside of a perimeter of officers around the jail, according to sheriff’s officials.

Federal and Bay Area law enforcement personnel are involved in the search.

Chavez was booked into the jail on Aug. 17 on various charges including burglary, extortion, false imprisonment, resisting arrest and firearms violations, deputies said. He is described as Hispanic, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 190 pounds with a distinctive facial tattoo above and below his left eye.

Campbell was booked into the jail on Feb. 12, 2015 on charges including robbery, false imprisonment, criminal threats and firearms violations, deputies said. He is described as black, 6 feet 4 inches tall and 220 pounds.

Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Rich Glennon said deputies don’t know whether Chavez and Campbell are armed but they are considered dangerous.

Anyone who sees either Chavez or Campbell should use extreme caution and call 911.

Anyone with information on the case should call the Santa Clara County Sheriff Office investigations unit at (408) 808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431.

Last modified November 24, 2016 11:33 pm

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