Oak Park, Ill. – An escapee from Cook County Jail surrendered to police outside a Cicero house early today as police were closing in on two others.
Late Sunday, authorities had surrounded the house in Cicero, and the remaining escapees – Eric Bernard, 22, charged with armed robbery; and Tyrone Everhart, 28, charged with aggravated kidnapping and attempting to escape from a courthouse – were thought to be inside, Cicero town spokesman Dan Proft said. Three other escapees were captured earlier Sunday.
Early today, Francisco Romero, 23, charged with murder, walked out of the Cicero house with two children. He was taken into custody, and the children ran into officers’ arms.
Bernard and Everhart were thought to be inside the house with a woman and other children, Proft said.
Six inmates escaped Saturday night by overpowering a guard, authorities said. The men escaped from a unit for inmates with disciplinary problems. One guard was on duty instead of two because of staffing shortages, said county Sheriff’s Department spokesman Bill Cunningham.
One inmate threw hot, soapy water from a shower onto the guard and held him at bay with a homemade knife, then handcuffed the guard and put on his uniform, officials said.
That inmate was caught after opening doors to let the other six inmates out.
Two other inmates were caught Sunday about 7 miles from the jail in Oak Park. They were Arnold Joyner, 43, charged with theft and battery; and David Earnest, 38, charged with murder. A third inmate, Michael McIntosh, 30, was arrested Sunday evening. He is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm.
It was the second jailbreak for Cook County since Friday.
