An investigation has been launched into the escape of a Lake County Jail inmate Saturday afternoon, Lake County Sheriff John Buncich said Monday.
Richard N. Campos, 22, of East Chicago, left his post as a trustee assigned to laundry detail at the Lake County Jail Complex around noon April 30, Buncich said. Detectives believe the escape was planned and that his girlfriend, who lives in Hammond, picked him up.
“We have scores of officers working round the clock to find him and (his girlfriend),” Buncich said.
Buncich said his department is also conducting an internal investigation to determine whether any Lake County Sheriff’s employee aided Campos. Initial findings, however, point toward human error as the reason Campos was able to walk out, accordng to a press release from the department.
Campos is a known member of the Latin Kings gang and has two outstanding warrants from Gary, Hammond and Whiting, among other law enforcement encounters, Lake County Sheriff Public Information Officer Mark Back said. He was arrested April 25 on a driving while intoxicated charge, and the warrant from Hammond was for failure to appear on a March 17 alchol-related charge, according to Hammond Police Lt. Richard Hoyda.
Campos is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs approximately 135 pounds, and has a tattoo on his left hand of a rose/diamond.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Department at 219-755-3400. To remain anonymous, call the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Report-A-Crime Hotline at 1-800-750-2746.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.