The sheriff's office says the two men escaped from the facility on 12000 Marsh Creek Road. The discovery was made around 11:20 a.m.
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In a statement, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said: "MCDF is a minimum-security facility that houses sentenced prisoners and those who are facing lower-level charges that would likely result in a sentence served locally. An emergency count was conducted, and a comprehensive search of the facility and the immediate area was carried out. Law enforcement agencies in the area were notified and an alert was sent to residents in the area."
The two are identified as:
- 33-year-old Gerardo Ramirez-Vera of Richmond. He was sentenced on weapon, burglary, and vandalism charges. He was due to be released in the first week of January 2023. Ramirez-Vera is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 140 pounds with long black hair and brown eyes.
- 28-year-old Jorge Garcia-Escamilla of Pittsburg. He was being held on charges that include vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of burglary tools, and drug possession. He had a future court date in three weeks. Garcia-Escamilla is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 165 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes.
Both men are now facing felony charges of escape from a county detention facility and face a potential state prison sentence.
The sheriff's office says both inmates are wearing all white or all yellow. Residents are advised to lock their homes and vehicles. Do not attempt to contact the inmates.
The search for the two is ongoing. Anyone with information on their whereabouts or who might have seen them is asked to call Sheriff's dispatch at (925) 646-2441.
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