Two escapes from the Hamilton County Justice Center in one week does not mean there is a problem with security, spokesman Steve Barnett said Friday.

        “It's an exception rather than a rule,” he said. “It was just a window of opportunity. These two individuals were able to spot the opportunity and took advantage of it. We're not in a state of panic here. We still think we have a secure facility. Unfortunately, these things will happen.”

        Authorities are searching for Charles Williams, 38, whose last known address was on McLean Avenue in the West End, and Trashon R. McCray, 25, whose last known address was the 7800 block of Greenland Avenue in Roselawn.

        Mr. Williams escaped Wednesday by walking through a mezzanine door into the visiting area. He shed half of his blue prison garb before walking outside. Mr. McCray escaped Monday afternoon by walking through a door that was opened to admit an employee.

        Jail staff took immediate action by locking some doors and watching others more intensely, Mr. Barnett said. He said in the future, he would like to see specific doors designated for inmate, employee or visitor use only.

        Some of the jail's elevators also have front and rear doors that open simultaneously.

        “The building does have design problems,” he said. “We don't like it. But for right now, we're stuck with it. As long as there's been jails, there's been somebody to figure out a hole here and there and make their way out of them.”

        The Justice Center opened in 1985. It can house 1,458 inmates, but by court mandate may house no more than 1,240. There were 1,111 inmates on Friday.

        “We should have had 1,113,” Mr. Barnett said.

        The two men were the only escapees this year.

        One of the most noteworthy escapes from the Justice Center occurred in 1998. William Samuel Burress broke a cell window and climbed onto an adjoining roof. He used a makeshift rope of sheets and clothing to climb down to a lower roof. He fell instead.

        He died, apparently of a heart attack, in an alley about a mile away.

        Mr. Williams is black, 5-foot-6-inches tall, 150 pounds with dreadlocks and a mustache. Mr. McCray is a black male, 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a nylon jacket, black sweat shirt and blue jeans at the time of his escape.

        Anyone with information should call the sheriff's office at 825-1500.

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