3 inmates use part of desk to escape from South Carolina jail

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The sheriff in Dorchester County says three inmates used part of a desk to pry open a window to escape from the jail in St. George.

Dorchester County Sheriff L.C. Knight told local media outlets that the three inmates pried open a metal flange on the side of the window on Friday using a piece of the desk in their cell. Knight said the three squeezed out of a narrow opening and used bed linens to slide down from the second floor.

Knight said the jail is old and overcrowded and its surveillance cameras are limited by blind spots where guards can't monitor prisoners' activity.

Officials say the three were last seen around 5 a.m. near Summerville driving a black 2000 Dodge extended-cab pickup which was reported stolen on Friday. They led police on a chase through Dorchester County.

The inmates eventually abandoned the truck and took off into the woods.

Authorities spent more than eight hours Saturday searching for the men near Berkley County.

They were identified as Donald Ray Little Jr., Michael Chaplin and Matthew Chaplin.

Deputies said the swampy terrain was too much to search for the inmates overnight, especially after a deputy encountered an alligator.

Officials said the three men are experienced car thieves.

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