2 Inmates Briefly Escape Napa County Jail

NAPA, CA — Two Napa County jail inmates escaped custody Monday morning but their freedom was short-lived, authorities said. At 9:40 a.m., two minimum-security inmates, identified as Russell Alan Townsend and Russell Lee Wyant, walked away from Napa County Department of Corrections, according to Deputy County Executive Officer Molly Rattigan.

Two county employees witnessed the incident, however, and immediately notified the appropriate authorities, Rattigan said.

The jail facility was immediately placed on lockdown as an inmate count was conducted and the housing unit was inspected, according to Rattigan.

Personnel with both the Napa Police Department and Napa County Sheriff's Office responded, and within 10 minutes, the inmates were caught and arrested by Napa police.

The two inmates were rehoused Monday in a maximum-security unit, and a request for new charges related to the escape attempt was forwarded to the Napa County District Attorney's Office, Rattigan said.

Townsend, who is serving a 976-day sentence for felony drug possession and possession of burglary equipment, was set to be released in July 2020.

Wyant — officials noted he is one of two Russell Lee Wyants in custody at Napa County jail — is serving a 446-day sentence for probation violation. Prior to Monday morning, Wyant would have been released in February 2020.