SWAT, police surround San Jose home in search of escaped inmate

Byby Lonni Rivera KGO logo

Thursday, December 1, 2016

SWAT, police surround home in San Jose in search of inmate

Rogelio Chavez is still on the lose and police believe he may be hiding out in San Jose.

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KGO) -- Police are still searching for escaped Santa Clara inmate Rogelio Chavez after Laron Campbell was captured yesterday.

The focus Wednesday is on a home on Coy Drive in San Jose.

A tip lead Santa Clara Sheriff's deputies to a South San Jose neighborhood.

It's the latest twist in the search for a now infamous escaped Santa Clara inmate Rogelio Chavez.

"It started with two cop cars, and Sheriff's cars, then all of sudden you get the whole parade," said neighbor Lou Martinez. She planned to walk her dog, but instead took photos. "You know, it's my neighborhood. I want to alert everybody around to stay away from this area."

A busy day of developments occurred after the jailbreak on the night before Thanksgiving.

Just hours before this SWAT situation, a judge set bail for 35-year-old Emily Donna Vaca.

Vaca was arrested in Gilroy for allegedly helping Chavez evade authorities.

"She just looked really really sad," said Vaca's friend Rebecca Henry. "I told her i'd send her some money."

Henry happened to be in court dealing with her own business. She didn't even know her friend was in jail.

Rogelio Chavez and Laron Campbell managed to saw through steel cell bars, repel down a makeshift ropes and get away.

US Marshalls searched an Antioch apartment Tuesday. That's where Campbell literally dropped back into the picture.

"Upon entering the residence, they determined that Campbell was hiding in the attic," said Carl Ahem, Santa Clara County Under-sheriff. "Campbell then crashed through the ceiling to the floor where the Marshall service and Antioch police took him into custody."

Campbell's sister Macaysha Alexander was also arrested for allegedly harboring a fugitive.

Three people have been arrested since the jail break Thanksgiving eve. One man is still on the loose, but authorities may be close to catching him.