Arrests made in connection with 3 OC escaped inmates, sheriff says

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said five arrests have been made in connection with the three inmates who escaped the Orange County Central Men's Jail.

Hutchens did not say what was the connection to the inmates, but said authorities are hitting area gang members hard.

Jonathan Tieu, 20, Bac Duong, 43, and Hossein Nayeri, 37, were all awaiting trial for various violent crimes before they escaped the jail on Friday.

The trio were last accounted for at 5 a.m. at the jail, and their disappearance wasn't noticed until 16 hours later when an evening count was conducted.

Since Friday, sheriff's deputies served at least 30 warrants in the investigation into their escape. A $200,000 reward has been offered for information leading to their arrests.