Prison break: Inmates cuts bars and rappelled from roof to escape jail

It could be a scene straight out of an old school crime caper. Three convicts with a daring escape plan that involved sawing through the cell bars, scuttling through plumbing tunnels and rappelling down a wall to freedom. But in these days of CCTV, hi-tech sensors and super security, it should never happen. But it has – and authorities are continuing to search for three inmates who escaped from a Southern California maximum-security jail by following that exact plan.

I think the public should expect the worst if they’re encountering them and call 911 and allow the professionals to respond.

Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock

“It was very well-thought-out and planned,” Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock said at a news conference. The inmates — one of whom is an alleged killer — were last seen at the 5 a.m inmate count on Friday at the Orange County Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana, about 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles and were discovered missing at the 8 p.m. count, Hallock said. The inmates include 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who had been held since October 2013 on charges of murder, attempted murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Hossein Nayeri, 37, had been on charges of kidnapping, torture, aggravated mayhem and burglary. The third escaped inmate, 43-year-old Bac Duong, was being held on charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

I am confident that this collaborative effort will result in returning these inmates to where they belong- behind bars.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens

Orange County jail