The final escapee from the Ottawa County jail is back in custody. Eric James was arrested in Omaha Nebraska Friday.
Of the four escapees, one was caught almost immediately. Santos Carrera-Morales was arrested late Thursday in Russell. Drew Wade was arrested in North Platte, Nebraska Thursday afternoon.
Authorities say the four men broke out of the Ottawa County jail Thursday morning. The inmates were being held there because of overcrowding at the state prison in Ellsworth. The Ottawa County Sheriff says the inmates who escaped overtook guards. The guards did sustain injuries, but there's no word on how extensive.
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Afternoon update: Friday April 20th 2012
(AP) — The police chief in the western Kansas town of Russell says a convicted murderer hitched a ride to a convenience store in the town, where he was arrested after escaping from a county jail.
Police Chief Jon Quinday told The Associated Press on Friday that escaped inmate Santos Carrera-Morales was taken into custody late Thursday by two police officers without incident at a store off of Interstate 70.
Quinday said Carrera-Morales was north of Russell along Kansas 18 when he got his ride.
Carrera-Morales is one of four prison inmates who escaped Wednesday morning from the Ottawa County Jail in Minneapolis. The inmates were being held there because of overcrowding at the state prison in Ellsworth.
Two of the escaped inmates were apprehended Wednesday. A fourth man, Eric James (serving time for Aggravated Robbery, Burglary and Kidnapping) remains at large.
Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call 911, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-572-7463 or Ellsworth Correctional Facility at 785-472-5501.
As a result of the jail break, Kansas prison officials have removed all inmates housed at a county jail.
Department of Corrections spokesman Jeremy Barclay says the 18 inmates who were being held at the Ottawa County Jail because of state prison overcrowding have been returned to a state facility in Ellsworth.
Barclay says the temporary decision was made after the four inmates escaped Wednesday morning from the jail in Minneapolis, a town about 120 miles west of Topeka.
Barclay says the move is temporary as the department investigates the escape and reassesses placing inmates in the jail. Kansas allows some county jails to house prison inmates under state contracts to help alleviate prison overcrowding.
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Thursday April 19, 2012
Officials say one of the inmates has been caught.
The Kansas Department of Corrections says, Drew Wade was taken into custody in North Platte, Nebraska.
Two inmates, Santos Carrera and Eric James, are still on the run.
All escapees are considered armed and dangerous.
If anyone has information pertaining to the whereabouts of Santos Carrera-Morales, and/or Eric James, please call 911, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-572-7463 or Ellsworth Correctional Facility at 785-472-5501.
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Update 11:40 a.m.: The Ottawa County Sheriff says the inmates who escaped from the jail Wednesday morning overtook guards. He says the guards did sustain injuries, but there's no word on how extensive.
Four inmates broke out, but one was caught a short time later.
The inmates are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call 911, the KBI (800) 572-7463, or the Ellsworth Correctional Facility (785) 472-5501.
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Authorities in Ottawa County are looking for three inmates who escaped from the Ottawa County Jail early Wednesday morning.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says four inmates broke out of the jail shortly before 5:00 a.m., one of them was caught and arrested a short time later.
Right now, authorities are looking for:
- 22-year-old Santos Carrera (Two Counts First Degree Murder)- 5'9" with a shaved head and a goatee.
- 22-year-old Eric James (Aggravated Robbery, Burglary & Kidnapping) - light-skinned black male with cornrows
- 21-year-old Drew Wade (Robbery & Aggravated Battery) -shaved head w/ glasses and "785" tattooed across his neck
Kansas Highway Patrol trooopers are looking for three vehicles possbily connected with the escape. A brown or gold 2002 Nissan Altima (Tag: 649-CII), a silver Chevy Impala and a 2005 silver Chevy Venture van (Tag: 854-DZQ).
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
We've also confirmed schools in that area, USD 239, have called off class for the day. The school closure is blamed on "unresolved city issues".
Initially, KHP reported only two suspects were still at large.
Eyewitness News will continue tracking down information. Stay with us for the latest both on the air and online at www.kwch.com.
