2 escaped inmates return to Orange County jail

Two inmates who escaped an Orange County jail just over a week ago are back behind bars. 

Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu were captured in a Whole Foods market parking lot in San Francisco on Saturday morning. Authorities brought the escaped inmates back to jail at 1 a.m. on Sunday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz_NPHObME4&feature=youtu.be

Because they are an escape risk, Nayeri and Tieu will be housed in a different area and in a different manner than the rest of the jail population, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said at a press conference on Saturday.

Keep up with LAist.

If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.

Subscribe

Hutchens said the two escapees were apprehended after their white van was spotted in the parking lot of a Whole Foods. 

"Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu have been captured and were taken into custody this morning by the San Francisco Police Department. At approximately 8:50 this morning, San Francisco police officers from the Park District station were handling an unrelated medical aid call in the area of Haight and Stanyan in the city of San Francisco," Hutchens said at the press conference.

A citizen approached the officers and pointed out a white van parked in the parking lot of the Whole Foods market located at 690 Stanyan Street, Hutchens said. When police approached the van, they saw a person now known to be Nayeri run away. He was apprehended after a short chase on foot. Later, they found Tieu hiding inside the van, along with a number of .380 ammunition rounds. No firearm was recovered in the van.

At the press conference, the sheriff confirmed a civilian had spotted the van in the Whole Foods lot. The citizen told the officer it looked like the van that had been broadcast on the news. Hutchens said she believed the civilian deserved and was eligible for some of the $200,000 reward that had been offered to members of the public for more information about the inmates on the loose. 

Orange County officials announced the arrests on Saturday on Twitter.

Tweet: Orange County escapees arrested

A third inmate, Bac Duong was taken into custody shortly before noon Friday, according to Hutchens. She said Duong approached a civilian on the streets of Santa Ana and said he wanted to turn himself in. He was arrested minutes later and has been cooperating with authorities.

The Santa Ana Police Department posted the audio of the 911 call from Duong's surrender and arrest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_Q_DG7gKY8&feature=youtu.be

Duong had previously been arrested on charges of possession of a firearm as an ex-felon, possession of firearm, possession of stolen property, vehicle theft, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at an inhabited dwelling.

Photo of Orange County jail escapee Bac Duong, shown at a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016.

(

Orange County Sheriff's Department

)

Nayeri, Tieu, and Duong climbed through a hole cut in a grate in a high security area of Central Men's Jail and rappelled off the roof using rope made of linens last week. 

"Our focus was getting these individuals back into custody as quickly as possible. But now the focus shifts to continuing to look at where the system failed us, where policies and procedures were not followed or should have been tighter," Sheriff Hutchens said at Saturday's press conference. "And so that will take some time. But believe me, we will be looking top-to-bottom on that. We do not want another escape from an Orange County jail."

This story has been updated.