Sheriff captures eighth loose inmate

CHICAGO, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The Cook County, Ill., sheriff captured an inmate himself, capping a week where eight prisoners escaped, putting his office in a bad light.

Michael Sheahan was at the home of Lawanda Warren's mother when she called, hours after escaping from officers monitoring her at a hospital.

Sheahan then persuaded her to turn herself in.

Warren was being treated for health problems at the time of her escape, the Chicago Tribune said.

Earlier this week seven inmates escaped in two separate incidents, prompting critics, especially those running for the sheriff's job Sheahan is vacating after the November election, to criticize the department.

One guard at the maximum-security Cook County Jail has been charged with assisting in a jailbreak and eight guards have been suspended, including the one guarding Warren.

Republican Peter Garza said the week of escapes highlight the need for changes in the 6,700-member sheriff's department.

Three Democratic Party candidates, including Sheahan's chief of staff, Tom Dart, are on the March 21 primary ticket. Sheahan has endorsed Dart.