Escaped Inmate Found At Popeyes!

An inmate from the Cook County Jail had escaped custody Saturday morning, but was captured hours later.


36-year-old Vincent Tervel, a cook county jail inmate, made a bold escape from his work program at the Chicago Animal Care and Control facility. Investigators say he simply walked out of a side door, while wearing a shirt that said inmate on the back and right under the nose of guards.

Chief Cara Smith says this is the first escape since inmates began working here two years ago.

Tervel, along with 15 other inmates, were under the supervision of two guards while they fed animals and cleaned cages in the shelter at 28th and Western.

Around 11:30 a.m., Tervel escaped.

After an aggressive manhunt, he was found inside of a Popeyes Chicken at Addison and Western on the north side.

Despite the bizarre escape, Chief Smith says the work program will continue.

Tervel, in jail on felony charges, is accused of stealing copper from headstones at Rosehill Cemetery. The Sugar Grove man has only been in jail for nine days. The work program is highly coveted by other inmates.

This incident is the latest in a string of unrelated mishaps involving the jail.

In September, Jeremiah Harris, serving 12 years for being an armed habitual criminal, was released after a paperwork error.

In July, Steven Derkits, accused of domestic violence, also released due to a mix up.

And in January, Steven Robins, serving 50 years for murder, was released to another mistake.

All three were captured.

Now the Tervel escape is under close scrutiny.



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